Batting champ Moreno adds All-MLB First Team honors to résumé

PHOENIX -- To understand what Gabriel Moreno meant to Arizona in 2026, consider this: When the Diamondbacks made their late-season push for the postseason, Moreno was in the lineup for 23 consecutive games before having to miss the season finale with a left hamstring injury.

Over that stretch, Moreno slashed .348/.416/.573 as he went on to clinch the National League batting title.

Moreno became just the second catcher in MLB history to win the batting title and a Gold Glove Award in the same season. Twins backstop and Hall of Famer Joe Mauer also did so in 2008 and '09.

For his efforts, Moreno earned First Team honors when the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards were handed out Wednesday night.

The All-MLB honors, established in 2019, recognize baseball’s best at each position based on regular-season play.

The initiative was introduced to honor players’ full-season contributions, given that All-Star selections are based on first-half performance. Fans were asked to vote at MLB.com to help choose First and Second Team selections at each position (including three outfielders, a designated hitter, five starting pitchers and two relievers) among this year's nominees.

For context, only regular-season criteria were considered.

"I've asked a lot of him," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said toward the end of the season. "Those days where he hasn't been catching, he's been DHing, and he hasn't batted an eye. I think he's just stayed in rhythm with a swing all year long. He is taking care of his body off the field, and it's translated into everyday at-bats.

"I think what's working there is an all-field approach, and you just can't pitch to him. He checks off a pitch, stays in counts, and he can rifle a ball down the right-field line just as fast as he can hit a ball in the left-center-field gap."

Moreno earned the honor not for his offense or defense alone, but for the combination of both.

"He means so much more than just the batting average to this team,” Lovullo said. “It's the growth and development from behind the plate, commanding the English language and being able to go out and have good conversations with pitchers, and lead while he's back there. On top of that, we know that he's a good hitter."

Moreno was also recognized for his defense earlier this month when he won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. It was his second Gold Glove -- he also won the award in 2023 following Arizona's run to the World Series.

Moreno led NL catchers and was second in MLB to Detroit's Dillon Dingler with 14 defensive runs saved, while leading all catchers with 2.0 defensive wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference).

Acquired by the Diamondbacks prior to the 2023 season from the Blue Jays along with outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in exchange for outfielder Daulton Varsho, Moreno quickly became the starting catcher and was an integral part of getting Arizona to the World Series.

Injuries limited him in 2024 and ‘25, but he put together a career-best season in ‘26.

Always good at throwing out runners with a quick release and strong arm, Moreno has continued to improve his ability to call games and understand how to work with individual pitchers.

"He just keeps getting better in all areas," Arizona GM Mike Hazen said.