The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Amherst’s Moore picked by Texas
Pitcher to pick either pros or Ohio State
It didn’t exactly happen the way he planned, but on June 14, Xavier Moore’s dreams of playing professional baseball became a reality.
The Amherst standout was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the MLB Draft with the 494th overall pick, and Moore said he’s still in a little bit of shock.
“I was really hoping Day 2 (of the draft) would be the day,” Moore said. “I was getting calls (from scouts), but it didn’t work out. Today I just wanted my name to get called. When it did, it was almost a numbing feeling. I’m beyond blessed.
“(This is) something that doesn’t happen all the time, and I’m honored and blessed. I didn’t think it would happen. I mean, I knew it could possibly happen but not this way.”
Moore joins Ryan Rua (2011 MLB Draft pick after three years at Lake Erie College) as former Amherst players drafted by the Rangers.
After getting passed up the first two days, Moore spent Day 3 with his girlfriend swimming and trying to keep his mind occupied before finally getting the call he
“One of the things I talked to scouts about (Moore), what made their eyes light up is how coachable a kid he is.”
— Amherst coach Matt Rositano
has been waiting for since he was 7 years old.
“I was with my dad all day yesterday hoping and praying to get picked,” Moore said. “Today, my mom was working all day and I wasn’t at my dad’s, so I was with my girlfriend. We just went swimming and I was waiting and waiting and waiting. All of a sudden she said, ‘I think your phone is ringing,’ so I jumped out of the pool, go look at my phone and it’s the Rangers calling.”
Moore, a right-handed pitcher, became the first high schooler picked out of Ohio in the 2017 draft and the first Amherst player selected out of high school. He is also the first Morning Journal area baseball player to be drafted since Midview’s Cody Callaway was drafted in the 34th round by the Indians in 2014, something Amherst coach Matt Rositano said is a testament to his work ethic.
“When he came over to us (from Lorain), he put in so much work,” Rositano said. “He always wanted to work extra with myself and (pitching coach) Mark Coughlin. One of the things I talked to scouts about (Moore), what made their eyes light up is how coachable a kid he is.”
During his time at Amherst, Moore (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) worked on gaining control of his fastball and honing his mechanics, and Rositano said this year he was “virtually unhittable.”
“(We worked) on his mechanics from his junior to senior year and it made a difference in control,” Rositano said.
“When you have control of a 93-mph fastball, you’re going to have success and that’s what he did.”
In his senior season, Moore was as impressive as ever for the Comets, posting a 0.31 ERA (Amherst single-season record) with 86 strikeouts. In two years at Amherst, Moore posted a 0.90 ERA with 121 strikeouts.
Not bad with the bat, he hit .359 with 28 hits, five doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI this season.
On May 27, Moore was named co-Mr. Baseball with Elyria Catholic’s Andrew Abrahamowicz at the Lorain County Senior AllStar Game.
Now, he has a decision to make: sign with the Rangers or attend Ohio State, something Moore said he will discuss with his family in the coming days.
“(My parents) were just very happy for me (because) they know that pro ball is something I wanted to do since I was 7 years old,” Moore said. “So this is a win-win situation. It’s a good problem to have and whatever decision we decide will be the best one for us.”
Rositano agreed and said for an 18-year-old, Moore is approaching the situation with a maturity beyond his years.
“We’ve been in contact a lot this last week about where he might go and what his decision might be, (and) at this point in an 18-year-old kid’s life, he has a really good grasp on the situation,” Rositano said. “Other kids might jump at the opportunity to play pro ball, (but) whichever he chooses, it’s a win-win situation for him. I think he has a full grasp of that and he understands that.
“There’s no wrong choice here.”
Wherever Moore ends up, there’s no doubt the his Comets family will be behind him as the community has been buzzing since the announcement.
“Just like a few years ago when Ryan Rua got drafted, being an Amherst alum, there was a lot of excitement,” Rositano said. “(We were) excited someone from here would have that opportunity and nothing’s changed. Xavier’s a great kid and everyone’s excited for him. It’s exciting for everyone around and a big boost for the Amherst baseball program.”
“For a kid from Lorain, (from) Amherst to make it,” Xavier said, still in disbelief, “I feel blessed.”