Atlanta Braves select Of Andrew Moritz
By Fred Owens
The second day of the 2018 MLB rule four draft continues. The Atlanta Braves began by selecting two right handed pitchers; now for an outfielder
This should makes some who feel that drafting so much pitching isn’t a great idea. The Atlanta Braves selected a power hitting outfielder in round six.
Atlanta Braves Select, Andrew Moritz UNC Greensboro, RHH OF 5-foot-11 and 180 lbs.
"Pipeline rank #142. Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45"
Moritz went undrafted out of high school and only UNC Greensboro offered him a scholarship, Moritz rewarded them by producing a .406/.471/.571/1.037 line walking 70 times and striking out 70 times in his three years there.
His big slugging numbers come from 10 homers backed up by 26 doubles and 23 triples and wOBAs consistently over .400
He played two years in wooden bat leagues so he’s no stranger to lumber over aluminum though his numbers weren’t as good.
MLBPipeline says,”Moritz possesses a pretty left-handed stroke and uncanny feel for the barrel. With a contact-oriented approach, he easily sprays line drives all over the field.”
BA called it when they said “a solid defender in center field, where his speed is an asset. Yea that looks the case.
BA also predicted his selection in the first ten round because of His hitability, track record and analytics . . .”.”
That’s a Wrap
If you’re pining for a hitter Moritz should make you smile. He won’t hit 40 homers but his gap-to-gap stroke should produce a ton of doubles. His speed will turn some singles in to doubles and some doubles into triples.
Next: Before Andrew we drew a Trey
Moritiz looks likely to stay in center field. He has all the tools, good instincts and looks like a hitter not a swing and hop batter.