Steve Moss Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2765
AVG	.255
OBP	.346
SLG	.406
HR	81

Full name Steve J. Moss
Born 01/12/1984 in Los Angeles, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Notre Dame
Drafted in the 29th round (859th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After years of waiting for Dave Krynzel to pan out as a center fielder, the Brewers have developed enviable depth at that position, giving them other in-house options if Brady Clark has a short-lived run as the big league starter. Moss is the best intermediate option, a toolsy athlete with significant upside who's ready for his first shot at Double-A. He played a career-best 118 games in 2005, avoiding serious injury for the first time as a pro and just missing 10 days in June with a twisted ankle. Brevard County manager John Tamargo helped Moss understand that even when he's nicked up, he's capable of helping his team win. Moss is a plus runner with above-average power potential. He has bat speed and a quick short swing, but his power has been offset by poor plate discipline. With experience, he'll learn which pitches to drive and which to lay off, and the Brewers project he can hit 20-25 homers annually while staying in center field. His plus arm could allow him to move to right if he slows down too much to stay in center. Moss took on a leadership role in instructional league, setting the pace for younger Brewers with his work ethic and attitude. The organization hopes that's an indication Moss will break out this year in Double-A.
Moss has struggled to stay on the field. He slid to the 29th round in 2002 when an ankle injury hampered him as a high school senior (scouts also believed he was intent on attending UCLA). Since signing, he dislocated his left shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield in 2003, then missed time last year with a broken bone in his foot. Moss' bad luck continued when he contracted mononucleosis during instructional league. During the few extended spells when he has been healthy, Moss has shown enough talent to keep the Brewers intrigued. He's an aggressive player with a nice, short stroke, yet he lacks patience at the plate and strikes out too much. He offers power potential as well as speed. He gets good breaks on balls in center field, and has a plus arm for the position. Moss' raw talent could all come together at once and allow him to make up for lost time. He'll jump to high Class A in 2005 and try to show what he's capable of over the course of a full, healthy season.
Moss plummeted in the 2002 draft because he had an ankle injury and a strong commitment to UCLA, so the Brewers think they may have gotten a steal when they landed him in the 29th round. Milwaukee didn't get to see much of Moss last year because he dislocated his left shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield. Though his aggressive nature led to the injury, it's also one of the attributes that makes him a potentially special player. Moss has a nice, short stroke and good patience at the plate. He needs to make better contact and develop more power. Though he has plus speed, he's still learning to read pitchers' moves and get good jumps on the bases. That's not a problem defensively, where he tracks the ball well and also shows a strong arm in center field. It would have been interesting to see how the Brewers would have aligned the Beloit outfield if Moss had been healthy when Anthony Gwynn arrived there. Moss could return to low Class A to begin 2004.
The Brewers broke even after going head-to-head with UCLA for two players in the 2002 draft. Fifth-round shortstop Jarrad Page, a physical player who resembles Torii Hunter, didn't sign and had two interceptions last fall as a safety on the Bruins' football team. But Milwaukee did sign Moss, another talented athlete who lasted until the 29th round because of an ankle injury and his commitment to UCLA. Though he played in just 35 games, Moss made a huge impression with his kamikaze play in center field. More than one scout was wowed when he dived for balls on the warning track and made plays all over the field. He runs with a long stride and has a build like Steve Finley. As a bonus, he also has a strong arm. Offensively, Moss had a solid debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League and showed that he has a decent idea at the plate. He still has a long way to go, but Moss looks like a sleeper.