2024 first-rounder Moore looking to flip the script in Arizona Fall League

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore's first full year as a pro didn't unfold at all like he hoped. A foul tip broke his right hand nine games into the season, sidelining him for two months, and he never got on track at the plate once he returned.

The 30th overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Stanford, Moore slashed .267/.463/.467 before he got hurt but just .193/.276/.256 in 53 games afterward. To help make up for lost at-bats and to try to build some momentum for next year, the Rangers sent their No. 11 prospect to the Arizona Fall League.

Moore started his first game of the campaign behind the plate on Thursday and helped lead the Surprise Saguaros to their third straight victory to open the season, a 7-2 decision over the Peoria Javelinas. He opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning and plated another run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Behind the plate, he collaborated with five different pitchers on a seven-hitter and threw out Ryan Jackson (Padres) attempting to steal.

After his rough season, Moore said he appreciates the opportunity to play in the Fall League.

"When you go down with a broken hand and miss the first half of the season, it's kind of a bummer," Moore said. "You don't really want to do that in your first season, so coming here to play, it's just an honor. I'm really having a lot of fun with it."

In two years at Stanford, Moore hit 31 homers and showed the ability to hit for both power and average while drawing a healthy amount of walks. When he's going well, the 22-year-old produces hard contact to all fields from the left side of the plate. This summer, he got too passive at times and had more trouble than usual driving balls in the air to his pull side.

"Coming back, there's definitely the component of you haven't seen pitching in two-and-a-half months, and then there's also the component of how the bat feels in your hands," Moore said. "There's a lot of hands in the swing and it was a little tough for me coming back. But I'm just trying to stack wins now and look forward to next season."

Moore gets mixed reviews for his defense, with some scouts questioning his receiving and throwing but praising his work ethic and communication with his pitching staff. He said he's looking forward to getting to work with and also hit against a wide variety of arms in the Fall League, where every team carries 25 pitchers on its roster.

Though he didn't perform like he wanted to in 2025, Moore said the adversity will help him going forward.

"I think honestly going through what I did this year, going through rehab, I've never been through that before," Moore said. "Struggling like I've never struggled like that before, I think it's really going to serve me well throughout my career and through the next year. I'm just looking on the bright side for next year."