Matt Moses Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2327
AVG	.251
OBP	.305
SLG	.375
HR	50

Full name Matthew Cameron Moses
Born 02/20/1985 in Albany, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Mills E. Godwin
Drafted in the 1st round (21st overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2003 (signed for $1,450,000).

View Draft Report

Some scouts say the lefthanded-hitting Moses has the best high school bat in the draft. He has an excellent swing path and smooth line-drive stroke, and should hit for average and power down the road. The biggest question is his position. A shortstop in high school, Moses isn't a consistent enough fielder to play the position as a pro. His mechanics, especially his footwork, aren't sound and he tends to knock down more balls and then rely on his arm strength to make plays. The style profiles fine for third base, though he could become a power-hitting second baseman. Others think his arm strength would work fine in the outfield or behind the plate. At 6 feet and 205 pounds, Moses doesn't have the lean, athletic build scouts look for, and his lower half could thicken, resulting in a more squatty player. Regardless of where he lines up on defense, Moses' bat will play.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Moses, a 2003 first-round pick whose offensive ability once was compared with that of Hank Blalock, has followed Blalock's downward turn--only he's done it in the minors. He had been pushed aggressively, reaching Double-A by age 20, but the Twins slowed him down and had him repeat the level in 2006, and he didn't respond as well as expected. The Twins still see potential in his bat but have lowered the bar and now see Moses as more of a six-hole hitter and complementary player than a middle-of-the-lineup force. He has been a streak hitter who has above-average bat speed but goes into funks where he loses his plate discipline and gets pull happy. He doesn't control the strike zone well enough to hit for a high average and doesn't make enough contact for his above-average power potential to show itself. He is a below-average runner. Moses' defense also has not developed as hoped. He's inconsistent with his footwork and throws, and his fringy range doesn't help. He probably could handle left field defensively and may move there sooner than later because the Twins want to see how good his bat can be. The Twins drafted third baseman Brian Busher in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December, giving them a veteran option for Triple-A and likely pushing Moses back to Double-A.
After he was taken 21st overall in the 2003 draft, Moses had a routine physical that revealed a tiny hole in his heart. A 20-minute surgical procedure fixed the problem, and he signed for $1.45 million. But in 2004 he missed nearly four months with a stress fracture in his lower back, a recurrence of an old high school injury. He stayed healthy through 2005 and reached Double-A. One of the best pure hitters in his draft class, Moses has a smooth, compact swing that has drawn comparisons to Hank Blalock's. He was pushed to Double-A and remade his swing at the Twins' suggestion to cut down a pronounced toe tap. He shows a strong work ethic and a grinder's mentality. Some wonder whether Moses' power will follow him up the ladder. He's a below-average runner, and though he has worked hard on defense may have to move to a corner outfield spot in the majors. He has decent range at third base, but his footwork and throws remain a concern. Moses figures to return to Double-A New Britain to start 2006. Michael Cuddyer hasn't been able to seize Minnesota's third-base job, and Moses could challenge him by 2007.
A routine physical after the Twins drafted Moses in 2003 revealed a tiny hole in his heart. A 20-minute surgical procedure remedied the problem, and he signed for $1.45 million. A more serious setback came in 2004, when he missed nearly four months with a stress fracture in his lower back, a recurrence of an injury he sustained before high school. One of the best pure hitters in the 2003 draft, Moses has a smooth, compact swing. He has the frame to develop power as he matures. He shows advanced pitch recognition and plate discipline, and scouts compare his offensive package to Hank Blalock's. Moses' back didn't require surgery, but it will require monitioring. He has played just 47 pro games so far, and a sprained thumb limited him in instructional league. A high school shortstop, Moses needs time to adjust to third base, where his arm and range are average and his throws are erratic. He's a below-average runner. Moses worked out at second base in instructional league and could wind up at first or left field. His bat will be his ticket to the majors, and he could open 2005 at high Class A Fort Myers.
Moses rated as one of the best pure hitters among 2003 high school draftees. A routine physical after he agreed to a $1.45 million bonus revealed an irregularity in his heart. A 20-minute procedure patched a tiny hole and has permitted him to proceed with his career without concern. Moses consistently hits the ball squarely thanks to a sound, compact swing. Scouts liken him to Hank Blalock, and the Twins say Moses has all the components at the plate to develop power and move on the fast track in a similar fashion. Because he's a baseball rat who loves to hit, he has advanced pitch recognition and solid plate discipline. A shortstop in high school, Moses was announced as a third baseman on draft day. He has impressed Minnesota by putting in extra work to improve defensively, but he's still fringe-average in the field. His arm is average at best, and his throwing mechanics are inconsistent, leading to erratic throws. He has below-average speed. Moses will move to low Class A Quad City this season. His bat is going to be special, and he should have little difficulty adjusting to pitchers at each level.

Minor League Top Prospects

Moses and Trenton third baseman Eric Duncan had a lot of similarities. They were two of the youngest players in the EL at age 20, had some of the league's best lefthanded power potential and struggled on defense at third base. Moses has a more conventional swing that Duncan, though a drift in his upper body costs him some bat speed and makes it hard for him to catch up to good fastballs. He's patient, uses all fields and could develop into a potent power threat. He had just 181 pro at-bats entering the season, so it wasn't a surprise he was overmatched in Double-A, where he'll likely return in 2006. He may never play third base in the big leagues, however. He lacks first-step quickness, allows ground balls to get deep and often gets underneath his throws.
After a back injury wrecked his 2004 season, Moses quickly proved he was healthy this year. He showed a nice compact swing and a solid ability to hit for average, earning a promotion to Double-A in early July. Moses only occasionally flashes power right now, but he should develop more as he matures. Though he had stretches where he got too pull-happy, he showed solid hand-eye coordination and a decent batting eye. His savvy makes him a better baserunner than his average speed would indicate. The biggest surprise was Moses' work at third base. A high school shortstop who had struggled to adjust to the hot corner in the past, he showed soft hands, solid range and a quick release that bolsters his average arm.
The start of Moses' pro career was delayed when a routine physical revealed a tiny hole in his heart. After a 20-minute surgical procedure to repair the defect, Moses was able to return to action and showed why he was the 21st pick in the draft. "He's an outstanding hitter, the best in the league," Orioles manager Jesus Alfaro said. "He's already got a major league approach to hitting. He has extremely quick hands and he stays back on breaking balls very well. He's got power to all fields." Defense is another matter. Moses' footwork is substandard and he has a below-average arm for the left side of the infield. It's unclear whether he'll remain at third base or end up at second base or in the outfield. He'll have enough bat for any position.