Rays 2016 Top 50 Prospects: Number 33, Angel Moreno

Rays Top 50 Prospects includes a tremendous number of high-quality prospects. We at RCG are bringing you an in-depth look at those we consider to be the Top 50.

While gathering as much information as possible from various sources, we’re going to put it all together for your enjoyment and raise the bar on what you expect from a prospect knowledgable site. Stay tuned, check-in often, and please let us know how we’re doing.

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Being such a lengthy process, some encouragement will go a very long way. We hope you’ll enjoy reading this series as much as we enjoy putting it together. If anything, all of us will know that much more about the quality of the Rays system.

The rankings will be based on all aspects of each prospect, but will focus first on how likely the player is to make an impact in MLB, and ceiling next. Mikie Mahtook and Enny Romero have been graduated to the majors and will not be included in these rankings.

Once completed, the Top 50 will be updated mid-season with an explanation to why they’re moving up or down, and the entire process will be repeated each season.

The next player to be examined in detail is …

#33: Angel Moreno, OF, 19 years old

Bats: Right Ht/Wt: 6’2″ 180 lbs
Signed: October 15th, 2012 for $188,000 as an international free agent
Twin Brother of: Jose Moreno (DSL Mets)
2015 Affiliate: Hudson Valley, SS
Anticipated MLB Arrival: 2019+

Moreno’s Stats

Moreno’s Fielding Stats

Moreno’s 2015 Splits

Player Facts

Skipped the GCL when promoted from the DSL in 2014
Was ranked 10th in the Appy league by Baseball America in 2014
Led Hudson Valley in doubles and total bases despite being 2nd youngest on the team, and was 2nd in Slugging
Tied for 3rd in NYP in doubles
Is 8 months older than team mate Garrett Whitley, but outplayed him by a wide margin in 2015
Finished the season with a .333 avg over his last 36 AB
Managed a wRC+of 110, wOBA of .335, and ISO of 152

From Baseball America’s Top Rays Prospects Chat this offseason, Hudson Belinsky had this to say about Manny Sanchez when asked,

"“DR (NYPL): Manny Sanchez looked impressive for his age in the NYPL. Is he in the Top 30? TB front office high on him? Thanks!”Hudson Belinsky answered,“He had a solid season and definitely helped improve his stock, but he is not in the Rays top 30. The lack of track record offensively, and his corner outfield profile make you raise an eyebrow. The more exciting prospect in Hudson Valley’s outfield was Angel Moreno.”"

Hit his HRs in back-to-back games, late in the season:

An Angel Moreno solo home run in the top of the 7th gives Hudson Valley a 5-0 lead. That's two straight games now with a Moreno home run.
— HV Renegades (@HVRenegades) August 15, 2015

Video of Batting Practice

Best Tools & Abilities

Solid Average Arm
Quickness and Great Routes in the OF
Bat Speed and Power Potential

Our Thoughts

Everyone loves to dream about international prospects coming up and blowing the doors off the building because it always seems to catch many by surprise. In Moreno’s case, the element of surprise went away when he did so well in the Appy league that he put his name on the board and within the 10 best prospects in the league for that season. From that point forward, the heat was on and he’s been tracked more closely as a result.

There is one area where Moreno seemed to fall back in 2015, and that was his base-running ability. He was caught 6 times and only managed 2 steals. That would indicate to us that he may become more of a 4-tool outfielder than a 5-tool guy. He also needs to learn how to draw walks more often as he only managed 7 while striking out 56 times in 2015.

On the flip side, he progressed at the plate throughout the season after a rough start in June that saw him hit .175/.233/.375. His last 76 PA saw him hit .356/.364/.616 and proved to the Rays that he’s ready for full-season ball in 2016. Impressively, he hit half of his extra-base hits (13 of 26) in the month go August, the best month of his short career at the plate. Finally, he showed poise at the plate, hitting .302/.333/.326 when faced with 2 outs and RISP (in 45 PA).

Expectations

Moreno has the chance to be one of the three best outfielder in the system by the time 2016 is in the books. His talent is impressive, but it’s his poise and maturity beyond his years that impresses us more. He can handle any assignment handed to him, and if we project him to make it to HiA by the end of 2016, he could feasibly make it to AA by mid-2017.

What we can expect from Moreno going forward is a translation of many of those doubles into HR, increasing his totals in 2016. He has the power to increase his output while maintaining a strong line overall, so there shouldn’t be a drop off in average, OBP, or SLG. If anything, we expect they’ll continue to improve as his body matures and grows stronger.

Conclusion

If you didn’t know about Angel Moreno before and just heard about him today, you’re welcome. He’s someone you’ll want to follow in 2016 and will hope continues on his current path. Because if he does, the Rays will have spent some of their hard-earned money in the perfect spot.

Next: Rays 2016 Top 50 Prospects: #23 Cameron Varga

A move to LoA ball is expected to begin 2016, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end the season in HiA. So long as his bat continues to power up an he maintains his focus, Moreno could find himself in the Rays top 10-15 range before we kick off 2017. We wanted to have him in the top 25 this season, but some veterans have edged him out of the top 30.