Moroff most-improved player in Pirate farm system
If the Pirates gave out an award for the most improved player in their minor league system, Max Moroff would have an excellent chance of winning it this season.
The Class AA Altoona second baseman came into the weekend hitting .294 in 134 games with seven home runs, 16 stolen bases and a .376 on-base percentage.
That came after the Moroff hit a combined .239 in 2013 and 2014 with low Class A West Virginia and high Class A Bradenton with .343 on-base percentages. He played shortstop at West Virginia before moving to second base at Bradenton.
The 22-year-old was selected to the Eastern League’s postseason All-Star team.
Moroff credits his success to a suggestion by Altoona hitting coach Kevin Riggs to wiggle his hips while awaiting the pitch in order to create rhythm before the start of his swing.
“Dancing with the pitcher,” Moroff calls it.
The Pirates selected Moroff in the 16th round of the 2011 amateur draft from Trinity Prep School in Winter Park, Fla., and signed him to a $300,000 bonus — triple the slot value set by Major League Baseball — to entice him to pass up a scholarship to Central Florida.
“He’s turned himself into a good hitter,” said a scout from an American League team who sees Altoona play regularly. “He still has holes to tighten up, but he’ll work a walk and he is starting to drive the ball.”
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Not surprisingly, Pirates closer Mark Melancon and left-handed set-up man Tony Watson rank among the major league leaders in number of scoreless relief appearances this season.
Both had 55 coming into the weekend, which was tied for third in the majors. Melancon had pitched in 64 games overall and Watson had made 63 appearances.
San Francisco Giants lefty Javier Lopez had an MLB-leading 57 scoreless outings in 63 appearances. St. Louis Cardinals lefty Kevin Siegrist registered 56 in 66 games.
Among other Pirates relievers, Jared Hughes had 51 scoreless appearances in 65 games, Arquimedes Caminero had 44 in 59 and lefty Antonio Bastardo had 40 in 53.
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Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco had a nearly once-in-a-century game Aug. 28 in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Polanco became the first outfielder since Bob Meusel of the 1924 New York Yankees to have three hits, two runs scored, one RBI, a stolen base, and two outfield assists in a single game.