Baseball Prospect Report

By John Klima
November 29, 2009

When we last saw Mike Moustakas, it was at the Cal-Carolina League All-Star game in July. We saw him recently in the Arizona Fall League. Moustakas has taken his share of criticism long before he is ready for the majors, but despite his body changes, he still has plus left-handed power and the hands to hit for a decent average once he learns to trust them.

Moustakas won’t be a middle infielder and he won’t stay at third base. When scouts in the stands start muttering that you resemble Bob Hamelin, that’s not a good sign. Moustakas does have power but he needs to make sure he doesn’t shortchange himself.  Part of the reason Moustakas gets heat is because he was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2007 draft as a shortstop and his development hasn’t been unusually fast. Yet it also hasn’t been unusually slow, which gets lost in the discussion. 

Moustakas won’t play short and he won’t play third. He will play 1B or DH unless he gets fit. Even then, he is probably destined for a corner. But he has the power to be there.

The other problem may be that Alex Gordon hasn’t become the dominating major league player the Royals envisioned. In this case, Royals fans have a nasty case of Gordon Depression. This would be my advice.  Moustakas will be 22 when he begins the 2010 season. He is getting more developmental time than Gordon did because he signed after high school. Moustakas has already had more than 1,000 pro at-bats.  Gordon was 22 when he had his first professional at-bats in Double-A in 2006. 

The Royals are doing the right thing with Moustakas. Let him take his lumps in the minors and get 2,000 at-bats before he comes to the big leagues. When he does, this guy still has too much pop in that bat to abandon. Moustakas will determine some of his future himself in his conditioning habits and in his adjustments he makes as a contact hitter. If he can clear those two hurdles,  the Royals should be very pleased with this player.

Mike Moustakas
Games Seen: 2, Innings: 18 (Arizona Fall League)
Second report of 2009 (see Cal-Carolina League All-Star Game)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Body dramatically changed from July 09 to November 09; always stocky now sloped shoulders and noticeable girth. Physical projection is maxed out; small feet and modest height with very strong forearms and thick hands and fingers. Barrel-chested. 

STRENGTHS: Plus raw left-handed power, can get a ball out to 420 feet in CF in BP. Has the hands to hit for above average or very good major league average.  There is still projection in his power.

WEAKNESSES: Must, must watch body. Below average range at third base, slow feet defensively and a well below average runner, slow first step out of box. Tries to do too much too often AB to AB, must make these corrections. Trusts his hands for power but won’t let ball get to him for average. Above-average arm strength, average accuracy

SUMMARY: Concerned this player is becoming one-dimensional much faster than he should. Body type could short circuit development. No chance to stay at 3B, would be a premium player as a catcher. Needs to lose weight and better condition. Has the power to hit 30 home runs as a major leaguer with good average. Can’t deny the bat exists, but player is in danger of becoming DH type.  Could play 1B and be John Kruk body type with better power.  

GRADES: (Future/Present)

Hit          35/55
Power:  45/75
Run:      30/40
Arm:     60/60
Field:    40/40

Adjusted Overall Future Potential (OFP): 55

What the Grades Mean

Read Mike Moustakas Q&A
Read earlier Mike Moustakas Scouting Report

Categories: 2009 Minor Leagues
Tags: Kansas City Royals, Mike Moustakas, Mike Moustakas Report, Pro Report