After winning a championship with Tennessee during his final season on Rocky Top last summer, VFL Christian Moore now has his eyes set on Major League Baseball.
Moore was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and spent the season with Double-A Rocket City in Maidson, Alabama.
As spring training begins in Florida and Arizona this month, Moore is one of several young prospects who are looking to earn their way onto their team’s opening day roster by the end of training camp.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo recently said on the Pipeline Podcast that he believes Moore has “a really, really good chance to make this team,” citing the Angels’ tendency to call up young prospects and Moore’s incoming talent.
“The Halos have been extremely aggressive promoting top prospects with minimal pro experience. Moore finds himself in a similar situation after a scorching debut in 2024,” MLB’s Michael Avallone wrote on Thursday. “Selected eighth overall last year out of Tennessee, the 22-year-old had no trouble adapting to life as a pro. Moore slashed .347/.400/.584 with 12 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in 25 games and finished the season with Double-A Rocket City.”
Christian Moore putting in work at spring training today
Hopefully he’s soaking everything up that is going on around him, I’m sure Washington is working with him on infield drills.
He’s going to tear AA up this season and maybe we will see him again later this season.… pic.twitter.com/r2cEPT2iQX
—
Joseph
(@loveofsports24) February 19, 2025
After being drafted from Tennessee, Moore spent two games with the Inland Empire Single-A ballclub before finishing the season in Double-A. Moore’s debut brought a ton of excitement to the Trash Pandas’ season as he made a habit of knocking home run balls out of the park.
Moore racked up one home run with the Empire in 11 at-bats and then hit five home runs for the Trash Pandas in 23 games. By the end of the season, Moore looked poised to continue blossoming as the Top 10 overall pick that he was.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
THIS MAN IS SIMPLY NOT REAL
CHRISTIAN MOORE WALKOFF HOMER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6ve1EjE1sG
— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) August 8, 2024
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According to Fantasy Pros, “Moore was reportedly close to a call-up last season before an injury sidelined him” but could be in play for a starting infield role at second base this season.
Moore and the Angels will begin their run through the Cactus League slate on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners. Spring training games will take place almost daily until March 25 as teams prepare for the season ahead.
While there isn’t much on Moore leading into the spring training games aside from Mayo’s projection, we should start to hear more and more about the former Tennessee star in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Baseball news.
