Mike Moustakas Stats & Scouting Report

AB	5060
AVG	.247
OBP	.307
SLG	.431
HR	215

Full name Michael Christopher Moustakas
Born 09/11/1988 in Los Angeles, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Chatsworth
Debut 06/10/2011
Drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2007 (signed for $4,000,000).

View Draft Report

No premium draft pick had a better season than Moustakas, who had one of the great careers in California high school history. The nephew of former Mets hitting coach Tom Robson, Moustakas tightened up his body between his junior and senior seasons, stepping up his conditioning as he healed completely from a hairline ankle fracture sustained during a scrimmage football game as a high school junior. He was the starting quarterback at Chatsworth as a freshman and has a bazooka for an arm--his fastball sat in the low 90s early in the year in relief roles and hit 97 mph in April. His power arm isn't his best tool though, as Moustakas' quiet, quick hands, polished approach and strength at the plate produce light-tower power and a smooth swing he repeats easily. Earlier in the year, scouts wondered about his defensive position--he's Chatsworth's shortstop but will move immediately as a pro. Most believe third base would be the first natural spot and others dreamed of his arm behind the plate, but most agree now that it doesn't matter. His bat will play at any spot, even first base, though it would be a shame to waste that arm there. The only complicating factor was his commitment to Southern California--he and Robert Stock would become an unrivaled pair of two-way players--and representation by Scott Boras. The combination clouds his signability, but not his impressive ability.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft and the recipient of a $4 million bonus, Moustakas led the low Class A Midwest League with 22 homers in his first full pro season. After a poor 2009 encore, he bounced back to earn Texas League MVP honors and tie for the minor league lead with 36 homers. Moustakas' swing isn't that different than what it was in 2009, but a better approach led to better results. He started laying off pitches that he couldn't do much damage to, leading to more favorable counts and more opportunities to unleash his plus-plus power. With his excellent bat speed, he can drive the ball out of the park to any field. He may never walk a lot, but he also has an uncanny ability to make contact. Scouts worry about Moustakas' ability to stay at third base. He's a below-average runner who likely will continue to get slower, and his footwork and mechanics lack consistency. He does have some assets at the hot corner, with a strong arm and average first-step quickness and hands. Moustakas probably will spend a couple of months in Triple-A to open 2011, but he should be the first of the much-anticipated wave of prospects to arrive in Kansas City. He should hit in the middle of the Royals' lineup for years.
After he went second overall in the 2007 draft and signed for $4 million, Moustakas led the low Class A Midwest League with 22 homers in his first full pro season. He seemed get swallowed up by high Class A Wilmington's pitcher-friendly Frawley Stadium last season. He posted the fourth-lowest on-base percentage (.297) among Carolina League qualifiers, thanks in large part to his .205/.266/.373 numbers at home. Moustakas has two well above-average tools in his raw power and arm. He has good hand-eye coordination and quick wrists to go with a mechanically sound swing, helping his power play in game situations. He has the bat speed to catch up to good fastballs. He made strides last year to become a more complete third baseman. Moustakas' approach at the plate got him into all kinds of trouble in 2009. The word got out to throw him offspeed stuff early in the count, and he struggled to adjust. He was too pull-happy and didn't hit his first opposite-field homer until August. He's so aggressiveness that he may never post high on-base percentages. Some scouts are skeptical that he can stay at third base because his hands are only adequate, his footwork is still raw and his body has thickened, costing him agility. He's a tick below-average runner who will get slower as he fills out. Most of Moustakas' problems in 2009 were apparent before the season began. He'll need to prove that he can make the adjustments needed to get back on track, and the hitter-friendly Texas League should help ease that transition.
For years, Mike Moustakas was the strong second fiddle to Chatsworth (Calif.) High teammate Matt Dominguez. In 2007, Moustakas established himself as an even better prospect than his fellow first-round pick by slimming down and showing his power potential. He set the California state records for home runs in a season (24) and career (52). The No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, he signed for $4 million right at the Aug. 15 deadline. Though he got just 41 at-bats at Rookie-level Idaho Falls that summer, his advanced approach left the Royals with no qualms about sending him to low Class A Burlington in 2008. Moustakas struggled to adapt to breaking balls and the cold weather during the first month, but he made adjustments and ranked as the Midwest League's No. 1 prospect by season's end. He was the league's first teenaged home run champ since Steve Gibralter in 1992. Moustakas punishes balls with quick wrists, exceptional bat speed and a vicious stroke. When he gets a fastball teed up where he's expecting it, he can easily drive it out of the park, and his power rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also makes consistent contact and should hit for average. After his early problems with breaking balls, where he was getting out on his front foot and beating them into the ground, Moustakas learned to keep his weight back on his back leg and use his legs to drive them. Kansas City actually was happy to see him prove he could deal with an extended slump and make the necessary adjustments. Moustakas is a much better fit at third base than shortstop. Clocked as high as 97 mph off the mound in high school, he has a strong arm that's a big asset at third base. He also played the outfield in high school, and some scouts believe his arm, frame and makeup would make him an outstanding catcher. The Royals will keep him at third base, however, to expedite getting his bat to the big leagues. Moustakas has the bat speed to turn on most any fastball, but he gets pull-conscious and can do a better job of using the entire field. While he improved at hitting breaking balls as the season went along, he needs to recognize which ones he can drive and which he should lay off. Considering he made a midseason transition to third base, Moustakas handled it very well, but he still needs to work on reading the ball off the bat and charging bunts and choppers. He's lacks elite athleticism, so he'll have to work to maintain his first-step quickness. Though Kansas City tries to be conservative when it comes to moving players through the system, Moustakas has the talent to accelerate his timetable. He'll move up to high Class A Wilmington in 2009 and could reach the majors as early as the end of the 2010 season. With Alex Gordon at third base, Moustakas may have to change positions again down the line, but he moves well enough and definitely has enough arm to handle a corner-outfield assignment.
Moustakas stepped into the spotlight during his junior season, when he set the Chatsworth (Calif.) High single-season home record with 14 as a somewhat pudgy 5-foot-11, 175-pounder. Moustakas tightened his physique before his senior season and hit a state-record 24 homers, upping his career total to 52--another California mark. His performance earned him Baseball America's High School Player of the Year award and consensus acclaim as the best hitter available in the 2007 draft. After almost backing away because of signability concerns, the Royals chose him with the No. 2 overall pick. Chatsworth third baseman Matt Dominguez, went 10 choices later to the Marlins, making them the sixth pair of high school teammates to go in the first round of the same draft. Kansas City didn't sign Moustakas until just before the Aug. 15 deadline, when it gave him a $4 million bonus that matched the club record established by Alex Gordon in 2005. Agent Scott Boras said he thought Moustakas was worth considerably more and advised his client to attend Southern California rather than turning pro. Though he didn't come cheap, the Royals believe they locked up a future middle-of-the-order hitter, though perhaps not a middle infielder. But they will allow him to begin his pro career as a shortstop. He's the nephew of former Mets hitting coach Tom Robson. There are few holes in Moustakas' offensive game. He has a short, quick swing that he repeats easily, plus an advanced approach for his age. He lets the ball travel deep into the strike zone before cutting loose, and it jumps off his bat to all fields. In his first pro at bat, he drove a two-strike pitch for an opposite-field double. He shows off tremendous bat speed and strength and simply has the look of a major league hitter. Assistant general manager Brian Murphy compared Moustakas' Major League Scouting Bureau video to a hitting clinic in which he did everything correct. A mature hitter, he already stays back on offspeed pitches. Also a quarterback and a pitcher in high school, Moustakas has good athleticism, average speed and some baserunning aptitude. He was clocked throwing as hard as 98 mph off the mound--he also flashed a two-plane slider--and that arm strength is an asset at shortstop. He has sure hands and makes accurate throws. He has tremendous makeup and understanding of the game. Moustakas projects to be too bulky to stay at shortstop. He's still filling out and his range is already less than ideal for the position. His best position might be third base, though that's currently occupied by Gordon in Kansas City. Some clubs were intrigued by the possibilities of making him a catcher, but that would delay the arrival of his bat in the major leagues. Right field is another possibility. His positioning and instincts will determine how long Moustakas stays at shortstop. After dominating in high school, he sometimes got frustrated with any lack of success during his brief pro debut. The only thing that will slow Moustakas' ascent to the big leagues is finding him a defensive home. He'll stay at shortstop this year at low Class A Burlington. His athleticism and arm strength will make switching positions easy when that time comes. His bat will play anywhere on the diamond.

Minor League Top Prospects

Moustakas checked in at No. 2 on this list a year ago, when he spent the second half in Omaha and tied for the minor league lead with 36 homers. Never known for taking a free base, he improved his walk rate in his second tour of the PCL, but it regressed after he was promoted to Kansas City in mid-June. Moustakas' calling card remains his plus-plus raw power, and his first stint in the majors showed he still has work to do to handle offspeed stuff and use the whole field. He made adjustments and should be a middle-of-the-order hitter. While his speed is considerably below-average, he has a decent first step and a cannon arm at third base. He's still erratic defensively and may eventually have to move to first base or an outfield corner.
Moustakas struggled initially after a promotion to Omaha in mid-July, beginning his PCL stint in a 12-for-55 (.218) slump, but closed with eight homers in his final 12 games to share the minor league home run crown with Salt Lake's Mark Trumbo at 36. Moustakas' home run total certainly wasn't an accident. His swing is short to the ball and extremely powerful. He has quick hands, exceptionally-strong wrists and his bat explodes through the ball. Moustakas got pull-happy when he first arrived in Triple-A, but he adjusted and did a better job of laying off bad pitches. "You make the analogy of a guy that's standing out there on the mound where the ball just jumps out of his hand at 97 or 98," a National League scout said. "It's the same way with Moustakas' bat. The bat speed just jumps out at you." With well below-average speed, Moustakas will have to earn his hits. While his thick body left some observers doubtful about his ability to stick at third base, he's not a bad athlete for his size and shows good hands and a strong arm.
Scouts and managers don't always agree, but they all were blown away by Moustakas' performance this season. The TL player of the year's 36 homers between Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha tied him for the overall minor league lead with Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo, and his .630 slugging percentage was third-best in the minors. After struggling in 2009, Moustakas showed his ability to hit for power and average this season. He's strong and short to the ball with the power to drive the ball out to any field. He shows a good feel for the strike zone but comes into the box aggressive, particularly when he sees a pitch he thinks he can drive, which will occasionally cause him to chase pitches.He had dramatic home-road splits--he hit .437/.485/.894 at home and .222/.318/.398 on the road--but his continued production at Triple-A, at home and on the road, should ease any concerns. While some observers think Moustakas will have to move to first base or a corner outfield spot, the majority opinion was that he's an underrated athlete who gets judged too quickly because of his thick body. He's a below-average runner but has range and plenty of arm for third base. "He is a phenomenal third baseman," Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes said. "It doesn't seem like he's an athlete, but he makes plays that make guys go, 'Wow.' "
While Moustakas' numbers were underwhelming, CL observers were nearly universal in their praise for his offensive tools. His hitting mechanics are solid, with his buggy-whip swing creating excellent bat speed and raw power. Moustakas is an excellent fastball hitter and doesn't swing and miss excessively, but he needs to become more patient. He's still learning how to hit offspeed stuff, particularly good breaking balls from lefties. He can hit for power to all fields in batting practice but didn't hit homer to the opposite field until late August, as he becomes pull-happy in games. Moustakas has a tick below-average speed, average range, good hands and a plus-plus arm. His stocky body creates some concerns about his future defensive position and his footwork needs more improvement, but he has made strides to become a solid defender.
His 22 homers were the most by a MWL teenager since Prince Fielder hit 27 in 2003, and Moustakas has similar offensive upside. He has so much bat speed and strength that he can wait longer than most hitters to start his swing without compromising his power. He's at his best when he stays balanced at the plate and uses the whole field, though he tries to do too much and gets pull-happy at times. "I saw Moustakas the first week in the season when he was the worst player in the league," one scout said. "Of course, it snowed for three of the five games. I came back later and he was a completely different guy. He's going to hit, no question, for both power and average." Moustakas is a decent athlete with a cannon arm, but he never projected as more than an adequate shortstop and would have outgrown the position anyway. The consensus is that he can become a plus defender at third base, though one scout thought he would need quicker hands and feet there.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Infield Arm in the Kansas City Royals in 2011
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Kansas City Royals in 2011
Rated Best Power Prospect in the Texas League in 2010
Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Texas League in 2010
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Texas League in 2010
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Texas League in 2010
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Kansas City Royals in 2010
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Kansas City Royals in 2010
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Kansas City Royals in 2009
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Kansas City Royals in 2009
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Kansas City Royals in 2008
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Kansas City Royals in 2008
Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Kansas City Royals in 2008

Career Transactions

3B Mike Moustakas assigned to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox signed free agent 3B Mike Moustakas to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Los Angeles Angels activated 3B Mike Moustakas.
Colorado Rockies traded 3B Mike Moustakas to Los Angeles Angels for RHP Connor Van Scoyoc.
Colorado Rockies traded 3B Mike Moustakas to Los Angeles Angels for RHP Connor Van Scoyoc.
Colorado Rockies selected the contract of 3B Mike Moustakas, and from Albuquerque Isotopes.
3B Mike Moustakas assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes.
3B Mike Moustakas assigned to Colorado Rockies.
Cincinnati Reds released 3B Mike Moustakas.