KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Christian Moore of Tennessee Baseball has opened the 2024 season on a tear.
The 21-year-old junior has provided a steady presence for the Volunteers the past two years in Knoxville, Tennessee. Moore carries athleticism and power tools into his third season on Rocky Top. It’s those components, combined with a steady mindset, that creates steam for the 2024 MLB draft candidate.
On Friday evening, Moore showcased even more and helped propel Tennessee over Albany. The Vols defeated the Great Danes 8-5, sparked by Moore’s performance at the plate. Moore flashed the hit tool, driving two doubles in each outfield gap. He later drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth.
Offensively, Moore seems more than comfortable at the plate after a full week of the new college baseball season. The infielder entered Friday’s contest with an OPS of 1.354 in 19 at-bats. Moore now has five doubles and five walks, with a home run in 2024 after five more plate appearances. He has logged four starts at shortstop and two at second base.
Tennessee has put an emphasis on Moore’s ability to cover multiple spots in the field and the lineup. The Vols opened the season with an open competition at shortstop, partially due to an injury with freshman Ariel Antigua.
As Moore’s role at Tennessee has grown, so has his game. During his first two seasons with the Vols, he’s hit .305 with 27 home runs in 332 ABs. Moore has started the 2024 season with a six-game hitting streak, five of which are multi-hit outings.
His surge into 2024 is providing Tennessee with a proponent that can influence a lineup looking for consistency. According to head coach Tony Vitello, Moore’s presence has been fueled by his mental approach.
“I think he’s progressed mentally and physically since he’s been here,” Vitello said. “It’s easy to see when he’s in uniform, but he’s also done that mentally.”
Moore’s status in Knoxville isn’t the only thing on the rise. The infielder has the traits to shift to the outfield based on his athleticism. The experience at shortstop can only help his case professionally. Albeit an aggressive approach at the plate, Moore has been a consistent hitter for the Volunteers while flashing power to all fields.
“As far as his swing goes, I think he’s using his legs a little bit better.” Vitello said. “But, other than that it’s a lot of repetitions and you have a guy that’s been to Omaha. He was a big part of what we had going on a year before only as a freshman. So, I think a lot of that is in his back pocket right now and working for him as well.”
With high-end athleticism and a consistent display of hitting adjustments, Moore is a potential riser that Baseball Prospect Journal will keep an eye on for the 2024 MLB draft. We see Round 2 potential for Moore right now.
