ethernetacademy.netThe Toronto Blue Jays must be feeling sick to their stomachs. That’s because the resources they sent via trade are flying off the shelves in fall ball. The star of the show is Gabriel Moreno (23-Arizona Diamondbacks).
Moreno came to Arizona from Toronto in a trade last December, a two-for-one deal that sent Moreno and outfielder Rueredes Gurriel Jr. to Arizona and outfielder Dalton Bashaw to Toronto.
With Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk entrenched in Toronto, Moreno had no chance. For Moreno, the trade was the perfect opportunity.
In Arizona, he finally came into his own. He established himself as the starting catcher and led the league with a 38.6% stolen base rate.
His offense wasn’t bad either. In 11 games, he batted .284 with seven home runs, 50 RBI, 33 runs scored, and a .747 OPS.
Most importantly, he’s been outstanding in fall ball.
He went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 8 and made his presence felt in Game 4 of the Championship Series.
Arizona was in the midst of a two-game sweep in the Championship Series. But a late-game win in Game 3 turned the tide, and the momentum carried over into Game 4.
Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks./Getty Images Korea
Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks./Getty Images Korea
Moreno moved up from the fifth spot in the batting order to the third spot and had a nice at-bat. She went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two RBIs. Both hits came when it mattered.
In the bottom of the third inning, with his team up 1-0, he singled against reliever Jeff Hoffman with runners on first and third. After drawing a walk in his next two at-bats, Moreno hit a two-out, two-run single off Alvarado in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied 5-5. It was a game-changing hit.
Moreno’s hit helped Arizona pull off a thrilling come-from-behind victory and tie the series at two games apiece.
After the game, teammate Evan Longoria told MLB.com, “You could see the confidence in Moreno. He’s doing a good job on and off the field. He’s making quality at-bats. For a young player, he knows how to keep his nerves in check.”온라인카지노
MLB.com also said, “Since the postseason began, Moreno has been a key to Arizona’s success. In the first round of the wild-card series against Atlanta, he hit an RBI single off reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burns to give Arizona an early series lead. In Game 3 of the Division Series against the Dodgers, he hit a one-pitch home run off Lance Lynn that sent Chase Field into a frenzy. It was the dagger we needed to knock off our National League West rivals.”
This is Moreno’s first fall ball. In nine games, Moreno is batting .267 with three home runs, eight RBIs, and a .953 OPS.
MLB.com wrote, “Moreno’s three home runs and eight RBIs and four long balls (three homers and one double) are the most by a catcher in Arizona history. He’s establishing himself as a clutch performer at a young age.”