Former Stanford standout Malcolm Moore saw his dreams realized when he was chosen as the 30th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. The franchise officially signed him to a rookie contract worth $3 million on Wednesday, as reported by Jim Callis. The slot value for his pick was set at $2,971,300. Moore, who recently completed his sophomore year with the Cardinal, played a pivotal role behind the plate for Stanford, showcasing solid defensive skills and a potent bat.
During his two seasons at Stanford, Moore maintained a .288 batting average across 118 games. In the 2024 season, although his average and power slightly decreased with 12 fewer doubles and fewer games played, he demonstrated improved plate discipline, fewer strikeouts, and even hit one additional home run, bringing his total to 31 over two seasons.
Moore also made strides in his ability to defend against base runners, successfully throwing out 22 of 51 attempted steals from second base this past season.
A left-handed hitter, Moore was highly regarded as one of the top hitting prospects out of high school in the 2022 draft, opting instead to pursue his education at Stanford. MLB.com’s scouting report highlights Moore’s potential to excel at the Major League level:
“There is confidence in Moore’s ability to hit at the next level,” the report stated. “He consistently makes hard contact to all fields and possesses impressive raw power, evidenced by his 15 home runs as a freshman. He has shown an advanced approach at the plate, including performing well with two strikes, despite the demands of catching regularly during his first college year. While his overall statistics dipped during his sophomore season, he maintained exceptional chase and swing-and-miss rates.”
Ranked as the 26th overall prospect in the draft by MLB.com, Moore’s draft stock could have been even higher with more perceived defensive prowess:
“If teams believe he can develop into an average catcher, he could easily be considered a top 10 pick,” the scouting report noted. “However, scouts are less certain about his defensive capabilities compared to his batting skills. While he shows improvement behind the plate, his arm strength is sometimes considered borderline, though footwork adjustments could mitigate this. Even if teams project him at first base, his offensive potential makes him a first-round caliber talent.”
