Diego Moreno Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

Moreno missed a month of games with a strained right rotator cuff, beginning in late May, and then on July 18 the Pirates suspended him for unprofessional conduct after an incident during a game in Altoona. Team officials never offered specifics, but all concerned were adamant that it was not a reflection on Moreno's general character. Moreno was the hardest thrower of anyone who played in the system in 2010, averaging 95 mph on the fastball and peaking at 98. The heater is mostly true but comes with a little natural sink. He uses a wipeout slider at 87-88 mph to keep hitters from sitting on the fastball. He also has a changeup used solely for balance. Command always has come easily, but the delivery is maximum-effort. Despite a stocky build, he shows good athleticism. His most striking physical trait is the exceptional length of his arms. Moreno dominated hitters in high Class A, but Double-A opponents took advantage of inconsistent velocity and fastballs left up in the zone. Scouts see him as a back-end bullpen type in the majors, though not a shutdown closer because he lacks a dominant second pitch.

There were a lot of hard throwers in the FSL, and Moreno might have had the best pure arm. His fastball sits between 94-98 mph with sink and tailing action. If batters try to sit on his heater, he can make them look ridiculous with an 86-87 mph slider. Not that he needs it, but Moreno also has a changeup that plays just a tick below average, largely because hitters don't expect it. His control is actually quite good for a reliever. Even with three pitches and the ability to throw strikes, Moreno never will be a starter. His delivery has too much effort and he's best in short stints--he threw on back-to-back days only twice all season. The Pirates suspended him for a month for disciplinary reasons but don't consider his makeup a long-term issue.