Toronto Blue Jays: Catching Prospect Gabriel Moreno Is On The Rise

Blue Jays catching prospect Gabriel Moreno has had himself quite a week.

Not only did he keep his top spot on the Blue Jays prospect rankings according to MLB Pipeline, but the young catcher was also told that he will be heading to Buffalo to finish the 2021 campaign at the triple-A level. He has played in one game so far, earning one hit with one strikeout through three at-bats.

These achievements are undoubtedly due to Moreno’s hot start with the bat, where he would slash .385, .450 and .662 along with 19 extra-base hits in 38 games in AA New Hampshire.  Moreno has more than doubled his power production from 2019, homering in 6% of his at-bats this season compared to the 3% he was swinging two years ago, and is on pace to mash 40 long balls through 162 games.

Blue Jays catching prospect Gabriel Moreno has had a great week. A strong finish to the season will be huge for his development in the minors.

Moreno has also witnessed steady improvement on the defensive side of the ball.  The converted infielder has been able to tap into his raw athleticism, witch has lead to an error-less season, where he has also caught 44 percent of base runners.

The Venezuelan’s breakout season at the plate and steady improvement on the defensive side of the ball have turned some heads both within and outside the organization.  Moreno has gained a ton of steam within the prospect community and is viewed by many as one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, leading to his number one ranking within the Blue Jays organization, and a top 40 spot overall across the league.

I’m very excited to see how Moreno fairs facing triple-A pitching after being sidelined for two and a half months with a thumb injury.  Even though the season is winding down, a big two weeks in Buffalo will put the young catcher in a fantastic spot heading into the spring, and may even give Moreno the opportunity to compete for a roster spot next camp.