Mariners Farm Report: Moore catching on quickly

It's difficult to imagine a player improving on a season in which he hit .307 with 22 home runs and 102 RBIs. But Mariners catching prospect Adam Moore is well on his way to topping what he produced during his first full season as a pro in 2007 with High Desert in the High Class A California League.

Through Tuesday, Moore was hitting .311 with 14 extra-base hits and a .384 on-base percentage with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the Mariners' Southern League affiliate.

"He's always looked like a good hitter," said a National League scout who compared Moore to Michael Barrett, a 10-year big league veteran. "He's built well, but gets out from his crouch (quickly) and appears to have enough arm strength."

Moore adds to a strong crop of catchers in the club's farm system. The Texas-Arlington product has improved across the board since being drafted in the sixth round in 2006, although he had to start over defensively with the help of Mariners roving catching instructor Roger Hansen.

"I had to start from scratch with everything," Moore said. "Everything from setting up to blocking pitches to calling a game; working with Roger has done a lot for me."

Hansen's assessment of Moore's progress is very positive, putting the 24-year-old on a short path to the big leagues.

"He's right there," Hansen said. "He's starting to really get it, and like Jeff (Clement) and Rob (Johnson), he's starting to put it together on his own. His arm is pretty good, but like everything else we're just trying to get him more consistent. That's where he's at right now."

Moore began the season with a bang, hitting a home run on Opening Night, and though he didn't hit his second one until three weeks later, his hitting is ahead of any schedule one could have expected.

But with catchers, the persistent question is, "Can he catch every day in the major leagues?"

If work ethic and effort are factors, Moore is sure to force the hand of the catching-rich Mariners over the next few years.

"I take so much pride in catching," Moore said. "My job is to get pitchers back on track and win games for my team. I'm out here all the time working on everything. I'm usually the first one at the park."

Hansen has long believed that if the player has the intelligence and raw abilities, becoming a big league catcher is all about putting in the work.

"It's like anything else," Hansen said. "You try hard enough at something and usually you'll be able to do whatever it is you want to do.

"With catching, it's not easy, so not just anyone can do it. But when you have a kid who obviously has the ability, physically, it's just a matter of getting rid of the bad habits and installing the right ones.

"Adam has done a tremendous job doing both."

Rare in baseball is a catcher with an above-average bat. Moore's abilities in the batter's box could thrust him past Clement and Johnson on the Mariners depth chart, perhaps pushing both to other positions.

Moore's bat is red hot, hitting .429 in his past 10 games with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.

"He's locked in right now," an American League scout said. "He's squaring balls up and hasn't been fooled by anything. Striking him out is tough, and he's taking his walks and really making pitchers work. He's a pretty tough out, and that's impressive, particularly in a catcher -- one that calls a pretty good game, too."

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

The Mariners' top prospects not currently in the major leagues:

1. Carlos Triunfel, SS, High Desert (High Class A): Hit .380 during 11-game streak ending Saturday, raising his average 91 points.

2. Phillippe Aumont, RHP, Wisconsin (Class A): Best pitching prospect in system since King Felix has yet to give up an earned run.

3. Michael Saunders, RF, West Tenn (Double-A): Multitooled outfielder has 15 multihit games and is hitting over .350 in May.

4. Juan Ramirez, RHP, Wisconsin: Ramirez has fanned nine batters in each of past three starts.

5. Adam Moore, C, West Tenn: His 11 walks and 10 strikeouts are an ideal complement to his .850-plus OPS.

6. Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B, Tacoma (Triple-A): He is hurting left-handed pitchers: .419/.455/.613.

7. Nathan Adcock, RHP, Wisconsin: Projectable right-hander has a scoreless streak of 13 2/3 innings and 18 strikeouts in past two outings.

8. Kyle Parker, RHP, High Desert: Command righty has 45 K's and just 13 walks in first 45 frames. May not remain in Cal League long.

9. Luis Valbuena, 2B, West Tenn: Solid defender is hitting for average and power in Double-A. Might see Tacoma in 2008.

10. Greg Halman, CF, High Desert: "Has every tool in the drawer, and then some," one NL scout said, "but his contact rates are more than worrisome."