June 10, 2022

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays have promoted top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno ahead of their three-game series against the Detroit Tigers in the Motor City this weekend.

Manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters on Friday that Moreno will likely be activated prior to tomorrow’s contest and start at catcher.

Listed as Toronto's No. 1 prospect (fourth in all of baseball according to MLBPipeline.com), the 22-year-old product of Barquisimeto, Ven., brings with him a cumulative slash line of .311/.361/.484 with an even 90 extra-base hits spread across parts of five seasons in affiliated ball.

The second of two catchers listed in their top five, MLB Pipeline has the following to say about the Blue Jays right-handed hitting catcher.

Hit: 60 / Power: 55 / Run: 45 / Arm: 55 / Field: 55

Overall ranking on the 20/80 scouting scale - 60

"(Moreno) shows a quick, compact swing that he uses with promising hand-eye coordination to make a good amount of contact -- he struck out in only 14.8 percent of his plate appearances in 2021 -- and hard contact at that. His power has come along quicker than expected, and while he won’t be a .600 slugger at the top level, he should be at least above-average in the category eventually with his added strength."

Through 36 games with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in 2022, Moreno has posted an OPS of .784 while gunning out 15 of 28 would-be base stealers on the season.

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