Breaking: Los Angeles Angels close in to secure the signature of Tennessee’ top man in a blockbuster deal.
Second baseman Christian Moore of Tennessee baseball was selected by the Los Angeles Angels as the eighth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Moore is just the fourth player from Tennessee since 1990 and the first to be selected in the top ten during the Tony Vitello era. He is one of three Vols selected in the top 10, along with Nick Senzel, Chris Burke, and Todd Helton.
The All-American hit of 2024.375 at the plate with 74 RBIs, 34 home homers. With 61 home runs in the last three seasons, Moore also set a record for Tennessee’s lifetime home runs.
The product of Brooklyn, New York, will rejoin Zach Joyce and Ben Joyce, his previous teammates, in the Angels organization. Zach is still with the Angels’ Single-A team, but Ben has established himself as one of the team’s top relievers.
He also gave a fantastic speech after joining MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on stage. He acknowledged his loved ones, his teammates, and “the GOAT” Tony Vitello before announcing his plans for the future and claiming that he will “for sure” win a World Series because it runs in his family.
Even though the Angels as a team haven’t been very good lately, Moore might find a fantastic home here. Although he will need to grow in the lower leagues, I think he will succeed there and move up the organization’s depth chart in the coming years.
When Moore makes his major league debut, the Angels might have Ron Washington as their head coach, which would be ideal for Moore.
While serving as the Atlanta Braves assistant coach, Washington did a fantastic job developing middle infielders. He developed shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Ozzie Albies into elite Braves defenders.
Austin Riley’s defensive progress from right field in his Major League Baseball debut to a superior third baseman in the league is another thing to consider.
Defense was the one area where Moore faltered toward the end of Tennessee’s drive for the national championship. Although Moore’s bat speaks for itself, he might be the Angels’ second baseman of the future if he can make it to the big and Washington continues to hone his defensive skills.
The fact that the final two first-round draft selections are already in the major leagues is another plus. Over the last two first-round drafts, the Angels have prioritized selecting college players who are almost ready for Major League Baseball.
With 2022 first-round selection Zach Neto and 2023 first-round selection Nolan Schanuel, it has worked out, so if their strategy is successful once more, Moore might be in the big before long.
Before Moore takes the big stage in the City of Angels, some Tennessee fans may be able to watch him play professionally if the Angels choose him. The Volunteer State is conveniently close to the Angels double-A team.
Moore is most likely going to spend the majority of the 2024 season playing with the Huntsville, Alabama-based double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas.
