Scott Moore

Today Scott Moore was called up for the Cubs. Scott Moore was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 8th pick in the 2002 draft as a SS. Going into the draft, Scott Moore was ranked the 12th best prospect and the third best position prospect (behind BJ Upton and John Mayberry Jr). Going into the draft Baseball America compared him to Eric Chavez with 20-25 HR pop and solid defense at 3B. The Tigers quickly nabbed him up at the eigth pick as other guys became unsignable.

Moore had a solid professional debut in 2002 hitting .293/.349/.459 in 40 games in the Gulf Coast League. Moore knocked 4 homers, but struck out 31 times in 133 ABs, just walking 10 times - something that has plagued him his entire career. However, after the 2002 season he Baseball America ranked him as the 8th best prospect in the Tiger farm system. Their scouting report included his a good stroke and good power. His range was lacking for shortstop and a move to third base seemed probable. His arm and hands were certainly good enough for the hot corner.

In his first full-season the Tigers sent Moore to West Michigan of the Midwest League and asked him to move to third. He was a total bust as he hit an anemic .239/.325/.363 with 110 strikeouts in 371 at-bats. However he did hit 6 home runs and walk 41 times. Still, Moore showed enough to be ranked their 7th best prosect at the end of 2003. Baseball America's scouting report said he had good arm strength and hands at 3B, but called him a one dimensional player whose bat will have to carry him. They also said that his strikeouts were a byproduct of an inconsistent approach, not his swing. I guess should have meant good things for his future.

The Tigers continued to progress Moore, this time sending him to High A Lakeland in the Florida State League. Moore practically duplicated his previous year's performance hitting .223/.322/.384 with 125 strikeouts in 391 AB. He did experience an increased power output of 14 home runs and continued to draw walks with 49 of them. Baseball America had enough of ranking Scott Moore in their top 10 Tiger list, however he was still given the leagues top hitter for power designation. A few weeks later Scott Moore was traded with relief pitcher Roberto Novoa and outfielder Bo Flowers to the Cubs for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.

The Cubs sent Moore back to the Florida State league as a member of the Daytona Cubs, and he the best season of his minor league career. He hit .281/.358/.485 with 20 HRs and 22 stolen bases. However he did strike out 134 times, but drew 55 walks. Moore's discipline remanined the same, but his power continued to develop and his bat produced more line drives. Of course he was repeating a level so the usual caveats apply. Still the former first rounder had shown signs of life. Baseball America jumped back on ship with him, ranking him the 15th best prospect in the Florida State League. Baseball America said that Moore improved his approach at the plate and stopped being pullhappy. However, his defense suffered committing 30 errors. His footwork was a work in progress.

The Cubs felt they had found a gem in Moore, and sent him to West Tenn to start this season. He continued his newfound success as a Cub and hit a .276/.360/.479 with 22 HRs and 12 steals for the Diamond Jaxx until his promotion last week to Triple A, where he doubled in his one game. Moore's defense at third base has seemingly improved as he was voted the leagues best defensive 3B. Moore will amost certainly find himself in the Cubs Top 10 in November and in the Southern League Top 20 later this month.