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Angels select Tennessee’s Christian Moore eighth overall in 2024 MLB Draft

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•07/14/24•

_Cainer

Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore has been selected in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Angels at No. 8 overall. With the selection, the former Vol becomes the highest draft pick for the Vols since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016.

Moore becomes the 20th first round first round pick in Tennessee program history and the fifth of the Tony Vitello era. Tennessee’s Chase Dollander was taken ninth overall by the Rockies in 2023, Drew Gilbert 28th overall by the Astros in 2022, Jordan Beck 38th by the Rockies in 2022 and Garrett Crochet 11th overall by the White Sox in 2020.

According to MLB.com, the slot value assigned for the eighth overall pick is $6,502,800. The Vols have now had a first round selection four of the past five drafts.

The second baseman, who could project as an outfielder at the next level, was slated No. 13 in the final draft rankings by MLB.com. Moore was ranked 12th overall by the final rendition from Baseball America.

Moore, the Triple Crown award winner for Southeastern Conference play, was one of college baseball’s best players in 2024, scorching the baseball for 34 home runs and 74 runs batted in from the leadoff spot. His .375 batting average was four ticks lower than teammate Blake Burke, who led the squad.  

The infielder also recorded just the second cycle ever in a College World Series game against Florida State on June 14, but it was his fifth hit of the day that was most important – a double where he turned around to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Burke’s two-run single.

Moore hauled in three first-team All-American accolades and two more second-team honors following the 2024 season. He was also named to the All-Southeastern Conference Team at second base. He also finished his Tennessee career as the program-record holder with 61 home runs and 34 in a single season.

Scouting Report from MLB.com

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

“A Connecticut prep school product, Moore posted a 1.062 OPS as a semiregular at Tennessee as a freshman and encored with a 1.046 OPS next spring. He has taken his production to a higher level this spring, leading NCAA Division I with 111 hits, ranking third with 34 homers (a school record) and setting another Volunteers mark with 61 career dingers. He hit for the cycle in Tennessee’s College World Series opener and led off the clincher with a home run en route to the program’s first national championship.

Solidly built at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Moore looks to do damage with an aggressive approach. His mindset, bat speed and strength give him power that plays to all fields and 25-30 homer potential, and he works deep counts in search of pitches to drive and draws a healthy amount of walks. His right-handed swing can get overly long and he still chases too many pitches out of the zone, but he’s making more consistent contact in 2024.

Though Moore’s big hacks lead to below-average run times out of the batter’s box, he can show solid speed once he gets going and looks to steal and take extra bases. He can make some fine plays in the middle infield but also can botch some routine ones and needs more defensive consistency. He played briefly at shortstop this year but his average arm strength means he’s probably more of a second baseman, and it’s possible that he could wind up in center field.”

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