Andrew Moore

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #6 prospect in 2017
  Moore was a two-time All-American at Oregon State who routinely confounded Pacific-12 Conference hitters despite subpar velocity. The Mariners made him supplemental second-round pick in 2015 and signed him for $800,000. Moore possesses an uncanny ability to read swings and put any of his four pitches where he wants them, working quickly and drawing early weak contact to mow through batting orders. His fastball sits 90-91 mph but has one of the highest spin rates in the organization, making it appear faster than it actually is. His breaking pitches are average to fringe-average because his feel for them comes and goes, and his changeup grades as merely solid-average. Despite pedestrian stuff on the surface, Moore dominated hitters and held up deep into games all year at high Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Jackson, highlighted by a nine-inning, one-hit, no walk, eight-strikeout performance in Game One of the Southern League semifinals. "Cerebral" is a word often used to describe Moore, with double-plus command and control at his disposal. Moore projects as a reliable back-of-the-rotation option and will either begin 2017 back at Double-A or Triple-A Tacoma depending on his spring-training performance.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #8 prospect in 2016
  The Mariners believe they got a steal in Moore with the 72nd pick of the 2015 draft, and that the polished former Oregon State ace could move quickly through their system. Similar to fellow 2015 pick Nick Neidert, Moore succeeds with command and control of a four-pitch arsenal more than velocity. He adds and subtracts from an 89-92 mph fastball that touches 94 while locating it to all quadrants of the strike zone. He yielded just two walks in his pro debut with Everett, the fewest among any pitcher in the league who tossed at least 20 innings. He keeps hitters offbalance with a changeup that has plus potential. He throws the pitch with deceptive arm speed and gets some sinking action on the offering. He mixes in a tight-breaking curveball that has potential to be an average big league offering and a low-80s slider that is mostly used for show. Moore is a cerebral pitcher who excels at reading batters' swings and learning their tendencies, though he sometimes overthinks and uses all of his pitches to a fault. He has to prove his modest but athletic frame can hold up under a pro workload. He could move quickly and profiles as a back-end starter without a dominant pitch.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #125 prospect in 2015 draft
  Moore was joining Thomas Eshelman as college pitchability righthanders without plus stuff who were moving up draft boards as stellar college performers. After winning 14 games as a freshman, Moore had 13 victories over the next two seasons but ramped up his stuff and ability to finish off hitters. His fastball velocity is regularly in the 87-91 mph range, but he's touched a bit higher this year and holds his velocity deeper into games. His fastball plays because he can command it to all quadrants of the strike zone, and he's smart and savvy enough to read hitters and their swings. A fine athlete, he repeats his delivery and projects to have plus command. Moore's curveball and changeup both grade out as fringe-to-solid average, depending on the game, He's a great competitor and quiet leader who has grown into more of a vocal role as the Beavers have needed from him this spring. Moore was trending toward the top three rounds even though he profiles as a fifth starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #11 prospect in 2016
  Moore doesn't possess any electric offerings, but his strong command, tempo on the mound and ability to exploit holes in hitters' swings allowed him to succeed in his first full season. He went 12-4, 2.65 in 28 starts, which included 19 at Double-A Jackson. Moore's low-90s fastball and mid-80s changeup register as average pitches, while his breaking ball grades as below-average. Yet he struck out 7.7 batters per nine innings and allowed just 36 hits in 54.2 Cal League innings, a testament to his command and intelligence. "I thought he did a good job overall," Visalia manager J.R. House said. "He doesn't strike you as dominant, but he gets it done." A flyball pitcher, Moore pounds the strike zone and keeps hitters guessing. As a result he induces many weak popups and fly balls, which is an approach that could work at Seattle's Safeco Field.
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  Ranked Northwest League #7 prospect in 2015
  Moore is a pitchability righthander who shot up draft boards in 2015 because of performance and dependability, and he landed with the Mariners in the supplemental second round. In the NWL, Moore's fastball sat 88-92 mph, a tick above what he was throwing in college. While his fastball velocity is average, his changeup is a bread-and-butter offering, and scouts graded his present command as plus, with an ability to improve as he gains experience. "When you have his command and fastball and pitchability, now you're talking about a guy who can move quick," one evaluator said. "I'm not sure if he's a starter or reliever (ultimately), but he does not walk people and has a really sneaky fastball." Moore does a good job repeating his over-the-top delivery, and his curveball grades as fringe-average to solid-average. He receives plus reviews for makeup and leadership.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Moore was a two-time All-American at Oregon State who routinely confounded Pacific-12 Conference hitters despite subpar velocity. The Mariners made him a supplemental second-round pick in 2015 and signed him for $800,000. Scouting Report: Moore possesses an uncanny ability to read swings and put any of his four pitches where he wants them, working quickly and drawing early weak contact to mow through batting orders. His fastball sits 90-91 mph but has one of the highest spin rates in the organization, making it appear faster than it actually is. His breaking pitches are average to fringe-average because his feel for them comes and goes, and his changeup grades as merely solid-average. Despite pedestrian stuff on the surface, Moore dominated hitters and held up deep into games all year at high Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Jackson, highlighted by a nine-inning, one-hit, no walk, eight-strikeout performance in Game One of the Southern League semifinals. "Cerebral" is a word often used to describe Moore, with double-plus command and control at his disposal.
  
  The Future: Moore projects as a reliable back-of-the-rotation option. He will either begin 2017 back at Double-A or Triple-A Tacoma depending on his spring-training performance.