It isn't just baseball that runs in Logan Moore's family. It's the Phillies.
The catcher was drafted in the 9th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the same team his father, Brad, a pitcher, played for in 1988 and 1990. From 1986-1994, he played in the Phillies system for Clearwater, Reading and Scranton/SWB. He also played some in the Reds and Mets organization.
While Moore acknowledges that the overall goal is to be in the big leagues, regardless of team, he also has strong feelings about playing for the Phillies.
But the playing history is only part of it. Moore was also born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
"I actually was [a Phillies fan]. Always was," he said from Florida, just hours after arriving. "I always had my dad's hats and jerseys that were around the house. It's weird how it worked out. It would be more emotional if I make it to the big leagues with them. It would be that much sweeter."
Moore's arrival in Florida marks the start of the 2013 season that could see him jumping another level. He played last year in Short-Season Class-A New York Penn League for the Williamsport Crosscutters, getting in 38 games and hitting .277 on the season.
In high school he played third base. It was then that he realized he wanted to play professionally.
"That's when I started to get more serious."
2013 will mark the third season that the twenty-two year old has been a catcher. But in that time, he's grown in confidence behind the plate.
"My defense is my strength. But I think I excelled in every [area]. I got better at situational hitting as the season went on, and improved in the second half," he said.
After being drafted out of Northeastern Junior College (Colorado), he made his professional debut in 2011 in the Gulf Coast League. He got 16 hits, and knocked in 9 runs in thirty games.
He split time in 2012 between Class-A Lakewood and Short-Season Williamsport. He played in a career high sixty-five games, with a combined .233 average, 50 hits, 30 walks, and 22 RBI. In July he hit .333 in 14 games, staying consistent into August when he hit .250 in 16 games. Consistency is the key word he came back to when reflecting on that experience, as well as looking forward to this season.
"I figured some stuff out mentally. The improvement in my hitting was my biggest achievement. I figured out my swing a little bit more, how to hit better in any situation...just overall, I got a lot better."
While he doesn't work with his dad in the off-season, there's familiarity there. They share the game in the way many fathers and children do, but added to that is the shared professional relationship to it.
"We just talk baseball. He will throw a batting practice, though."
When Moore thinks of baseball and the Phillies, he thinks of Pete Rose.
"Just the way he gave one hundred percent. I loved that about him."
His own aggressiveness and drive kept him going through the grueling grind, and learning how to handle the daily push. The physical wasn't even the toughest part.
"You get more mentally tired. You're just absolutely drained thinking about baseball everyday. You want to go into the following season stronger. Because I'm still learning catching, I can only go up. Hitting-wise I just want to be more consistent."
He also values his relationships with the pitching staff. It's a delicate bond, with trust and respect deeply important to success.
"I try to become friends with all my pitchers. We had a great bullpen [in Williamsport] and I was close with a couple of the starters. I think being friends off the field carries over into the game. That can only help [communication.]"
Follow Logan Moore @LoMo_10
