The team gave him the silent treatment, all sitting stone faced in the dugout as he rounded the bases with a huge smile before breaking out high fives and back slaps a few moments after he arrived in the dugout.
Moran had posted a .208/.293/.308 line in AAA Indianapolis prior to being called up, which is underwhelming, even for him. But the club fell on desperate straits when it came to defense in center field, and decided to bite the bullet and insert Moran in the starting lineup against left handed pitching. The kid from Guatemala has responded with an eye-popping .419/.471/.677 slash that includes 3 doubles, a triple, and three stolen bases in four attempts in 34 plate appearances.
“He’s been a breath of fresh air for us, to be honest,” said manager Bret Richards. “We’ve been needing something fun to focus on, and the guys like watching him out there.”
The fans are liking it, too, as they’ve begun chanting “More-More-Moran!” every time he’s announced or makes a play in the field (which has been often: in 6 games started, he’s already at +1 ZR in center—he’s also had four outfield kills and been part of two double plays).
“He’s making things happen,” said fellow outfielder Pat Allen. “That kind of thing gets to be infectious.”
No one, even Moran, thinks this level of brilliance an last for long, but the team is encouraged, of course, and at the end of the day, if Moran can mange to do nothing but play defense as he is, and perhaps get on base in something close to the .348 clip he did in AA Santa Clara last season, that would probably be enough to keep him on the roster next year.
“I’m having too much fun to worry about next year,” Moran said. “Don’t go popping my bubble.”