Orber Moreno Stats & Scouting Report

IP	50
ERA	4.5
WHIP	1.26
BB/9	3.6
SO/9	7.38

Full name Orber Aquiles Moreno
Born 04/27/1977 in Caracas, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Luisa Caceres
Debut 05/25/1999

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Projected as the Royals' closer of the future when he was promoted to the majors in May 1999, he overthrew and blew out his elbow. He finally started to bounce back last season. He showed his old 92-95 mph fastball early in 2003, along with a slightly above-average changeup and a useable curveball. He dominated Triple-A hitters but wore down as the season went along. By the time he joined the Mets, Moreno's fastball was down to 91-92 and he struggled to show his best stuff on back-to-back nights. He can be a solid major league reliever thanks to his fastball life and his ability to throw his change in any count. Concerns remain about his durability. If he shows he's fully healthy, he could be a nice sleeper in the New York bullpen.
Moreno used to be Kansas City's closer of the future--back when the future meant 2000. Now the Royals will settle for just getting him healthy and going from there. Promoted to the majors in 1999, Moreno overthrew and wrecked his arm. He went down, first with biceps tendinitis and then with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He made it back to Triple-A by the end of last year, but he came down with a sore shoulder this winter while pitching in his native Venezuela. Moreno once topped out at 98 mph, and while he doesn't throw quite that hard any longer, he's now a better pitcher. His slider has improved since his surgery, and his changeup is coming along. If he's healthy he still could solve Kansas City's closer problem. But if there's one thing the system is deep in, it's relief prospects, and Moreno must re-establish himself.
The Royals might not have had to turn to Ricky Bottalico and Jerry Spradlin as closers if Moreno hadn't been hurt. Converted to relief in 1998, he immediately responded by dominating in Double-A and earned a big league promotion in May 1999. Once in Kansas City, Moreno tried to overthrow, and he went on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. He also injured his elbow, tearing a tendon in spring training last year and requiring Tommy John surgery. There was no need for Moreno to overthrow, because he already possessed a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 98 mph. He also throws a slider and changeup. The success rate of pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery keeps increasing, though Moreno will have to show he's healthy before being projected as the club's closer of the future again.