Mike Moustakas: The Shortstop??

by adschofield on Jun 7, 2007 9:01 PM EDT

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/140624.html

The Royals selected Chatsworth (Calif.) High infielder Mike Moustakas with the No. 2 overall pick in today’s amateur baseball draft.

Moustakas is California’s all-time (52) and single-season (24) home-run king and a two-time selection as the Los Angeles player of the year. Moustakas played mostly shortstop in high school.

Most projections had Moustakas moving to third base or first base, but Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier and general manager Dayton Moore each said today that they think Moustakas can play shortstop in the big leagues.

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Sure

I can see why they in particular would want to think that. As a fantasy Moustakas owner, I'm happy they'll give it a try.

by igreen01 on Jun 7, 2007 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

I think

I also saw the possibility of catcher for him...

If Clemens and Smoltz face off in a deciding Game 7, we could witness the perfect storm of nonsensical comments from Bravesin07 and NYYLover1000 - gatling

by slurve on Jun 7, 2007 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

Can he be worse than Michael Young?

Honestly, if he can give you 80 power at shortstop, I could live with a below-average range.

At 6 feet, 195 pounds, Moustakas (pronounced Moo-STOCK-is), played shortstop this past spring, a position at which the Royals believe he can stay.

"We have felt strongly about him being an impact bat, which is something that obviously you want to get with the No. 2 selection in the country," Ladnier said. "We feel strongly that he will stay at shortstop. He is an athletic kid with good hands, plus arm, feet are good. He is a baseball player with character makeup. He's ecstatic about being a Royal. ... We selected who we felt was the best player for this organization."

Also, BA has reported that the Royals have already signed him. That has to be a record for a Boras client in the 1st round, but maybe Pawalek signed the first day as well.

by Bowser on Jun 7, 2007 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

I think

Gordon's good D at 3B will help to hide Moustakas a little if his range isn't that good...

Phillip Hughes turning into Barbaro? Odds are that Hughes will probably be put to sleep within the next year. --Bravesin08

by Dfarth on Jun 7, 2007 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Pawalek

He signed like 10 minutes after being drafted

by ian on Jun 8, 2007 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions

What's not to like?

A kid who can hit and who is described as a natural baseball player who has infectious leadership qualities. The more I watch and hear the KC brass, the more I like their team.

by Yoda @ Minor League Ball on Jun 8, 2007 1:32 AM EDT reply actions

what's not to like?

well, i'll tell you what i don't like. he's a guy who's not very big or physical, doesn't have a clear defensive home, is represented by scott boras, and he's the #2 pick in the draft. that's what i don't like.

of course i'm not saying he won't be a good player. i just think they could have done better.

by jpahk on Jun 8, 2007 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions

son of a bitch!

and hes 22!

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2007/tracker.jsp?mc=moustakas

by wildthang on Jun 8, 2007 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions

OMG AGEGATE

fun fact: his actual birthday is september 11th.

by wily mo on Jun 8, 2007 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions

and actually

Moore and Ladnier have been pretty outspoken in their belief he will be a ML shortstop, at least in the 13 hours since they drafted him.

by wildthang on Jun 8, 2007 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions

He's 18

milb.com is wrong.

by doublestix on Jun 8, 2007 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions

not big or physical

David Wright isn't very big or physical either. If they REALLY believe in his bat Moustakas shouldn't be dismissed as a #2 overall pick simply because he's not a couple inches taller.

sig: Karim Garcia posted dominant AAA stats at 19. So can we stop acting like ARL trumps all in every discussion...

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jun 8, 2007 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Big

I don't understand the concerns over his size, as he has shown no problem mashing at 6 feet tall.

Size is good for projecting power, but if the kid already has plus power and is expecting to have 80 power at his peak, then it's not an issue.

by Bowser on Jun 8, 2007 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

similar

Alex Gordon was a similar size coming out of HS, actually.

Gordon at 23 is now 6' 1", 215. Moose very well could end up like that.

by doublestix on Jun 8, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Moose

The guy is such a sick athlete, I could care less what size he is.

Starting varsity QB since his freshman year, career and season leader for HRs in Cali, 2 time LA player of the year, 80 arm and 80 power...the guy is an elite talent.

by Bowser on Jun 8, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Funny...

The more I watch and hear the KC brass the more I dislike em. I think that Moose will at least be a decent player, but I think they could have done better with the #2 pick.

by KCSlayer on Jun 8, 2007 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree

I think it's telling that an organization will pony up millions of dollars year in and year out to guaranteed mediocrity like Matt Stairs and Odalis Perez and Scott Elarton and Mark Grudzielanek and Jason LaRue and Ross Gload. I know that Dayton Moore hasn't made all of these decisions, but he certainly hasn't stopped making them either.

Here's an idea: Let your prospects play, cut the horrible fat on your roster, and use the savings to draft the real franchise talents when you get the #2 pick.

by limozeen on Jun 8, 2007 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

They didn't go cheap

I think you guys are selling Moustakas short to complain like that. He's a possible middle infielder (maybe a 2B) with 80 power on the scouting scale, and likely the high school player of the year. He's also a Boras client. I think the odds of him turning out more valuable than Porcello or Wieters are pretty close to 50-50 in each case.

by igreen01 on Jun 8, 2007 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Forgive me...

if I don't trust the same scouting personel that said Billy Butler was making such great strides in the OF that he would become an average fielder and then turn around and start working him at 1B after a 10 day stint in the majors when they tell me that Moose will stick at SS when just about every other source says he will eventually switch to 3B or 1B.

by KCSlayer on Jun 8, 2007 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't follow you

Do you not trust them because they stated that they would never look at changing Butler's position? Do they make the call as to where Butler plays? Do you think they told a falsehood when they said that Butler would become an average fielder? Are "just about every other source" all good sources? Did those sources scout themselves, or do they all read the same scouting report?

by Yoda @ Minor League Ball on Jun 9, 2007 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions