Former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Gabriel Moreno formally captured the Nationwide League batting title for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With a .311 batting common, Moreno narrowly edged out Philadelphia Phillies infielder Luis Arraez and his .310 batting common for the NL batting title, changing into the primary Diamondbacks participant to realize the feat.
Solely Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, who hit .316 this 12 months, had the next batting common of any certified hitter in the whole MLB.
Gabriel Moreno Was As soon as a Blue Jays Prospect
Blue Jays followers bear in mind Moreno as a high catching prospect for the workforce, who selected to deal him forward of the 2023 season, alongside outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., in trade for then-Diamondbacks outfielder Daulton Varsho.
The commerce has definitely was an attention-grabbing one for each golf equipment, because the Diamondbacks have clearly been thrilled by the participant whom the 26-year-old Moreno has was, as he has received a Gold Glove for the workforce and now a batting title, whereas additionally serving to lead Arizona to the 2023 World Collection, the place they misplaced to the Texas Rangers in 5 video games.
The Blue Jays additionally went to the World Collection in 2025 with Varsho, however the outfielder is now not with the workforce, as he was traded to the Houston Astros this season on the commerce deadline in trade for pitcher Spencer Arrighetti.
Varsho was a superb outfielder for a lot of the 4 years that he was with Toronto, so the workforce possible doesn’t remorse making the deal, regardless that Moreno has was one in every of MLB’s elite catchers in Arizona.
Blue Jays Selected Alejandro Kirk Over Gabriel Moreno
The Blue Jays had a selection in 2022 between both Moreno or Alejandro Kirk as their catcher of the long run, they usually opted to go along with Kirk, who has been a terrific participant for Toronto.
Toronto may have saved each catchers, however they selected to deal Moreno and purchase an elite defensive middle fielder with energy in Varsho, who had a superb run with the Blue Jays for practically 4 years he was a part of the Blue Jays rorster.
Nonetheless, it definitely isn’t straightforward for Blue Jays followers to observe from afar how a lot success Moreno has achieved up to now throughout his profession in Arizona. As nicely, the workforce nonetheless has him below workforce management for reasonable for the subsequent two seasons, so the Diamondbacks are clearly thrilled that they made this commerce with Toronto 4 years in the past after Moreno simply put up a 6.3 bWAR season with the Diamondbacks.
For Toronto, the very fact that they had Kirk already meant that that they had a surplus of elite catching expertise, and in the end, the workforce selected to stay with Kirk and deal Moreno and Gurriel for Varsho.
General, it seems like this has been a win-win commerce for each groups up to now, however the truth that the Blue Jays in the end solely ended up with Arrighetti from the commerce tree whereas the Diamondbacks are nonetheless having fun with Moreno’s strong bat and Gold Glove-caliber protection at catcher for not less than two extra seasons makes this really feel like a commerce Arizona will get the most effective of.
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