Gabriel Moreno #14

Married to Rosmila ... Is from the same city in Venezuela as fellow D-back Diego Castillo ... Began playing soccer more regularly at age nine when he was temporarily taken away from baseball due to economic hardships ... He would dribble the ball in his neighborhood and play in pick-up games … his favorite player is Brazilian forward, Neymar, because of what he calls, "an unbelievable talent on the field and the ability to create incredible plays." ... Grew up playing shortstop throughout his amateur career and was converted to catcher by Blue Jays' scout, Francisco Plasencia, in 2016 at the age of 16 during the signing process ... Nearly had to give up his baseball dreams at age nine in the late 2000s when Venezuela was suffering from food shortages, poverty issues, a countrywide energy crisis and an economic decline, which took its toll on Moreno's family ... With four children to care for, Moreno's father, José, struggled to provide for the family, which led to the youngest Moreno having to quit organized baseball for lack of funds.

2023

Hit .284 (97-for-341)/.339 OBP with 19 doubles, one triple, seven homers, 50 RBI and 29 walks in 111 games in his first season with Arizona. Finished first in the Majors [min. 90 games] with a 38.6 caught stealing pct. (22-for-57) while his 22 caught stealings tied for seventh. Ranked atop MLB catchers [min. 90 games] in average (.284) behind Willson Contreras/MIL (.291). His .284 AVG. ranked second on the team behind only Corbin Carroll (.285). Posted the fourth highest batting AVG. in franchise history among catchers [min. 90 games], behind Johnny Estrada (.302/2006) and Miguel Montero (.294/2009; .286/2012). Made his first Opening Day roster. Hit his first homer as a D-back on April 18 at St. Louis (two-run HR). Placed on the 10-day IL from July 23 to Aug.13 (left shoulder inflammation). After being reinstated from the IL, hit .311 (37-for-119)/.878 OPS in 37 games and the D-backs went 22-15. Recorded his first career grand slam on Aug. 19 in San Diego in Game 2 of the doubleheader and first 5-RBI game in the Majors. Posted his first career four-hit performance on Sept. 15 vs. the Cubs (four-for-four with one double). Delivered his first career walk-off hit on Sept. 16 vs. the Cubs in the bottom of the 13th inning

POSTSEASON: Hit .238 (15-for-63) with one double, four homers, 12 RBI and six walks over 17 games … led the team in RBI and tied for most homers (also: Alek Thomas). Became the first catcher with four-plus homers in a single Postseason age 23 or younger … only Sandy Alomar Jr. has hit more homers (five) in a Postseason. Among catchers in their first 17 Postseason games, his four homers tied for third most, behind Gary Sanchez (five) and Jason Varitek (five), while his 12 RBI tied for fifth, behind Ivan Rodriguez (15), Benito Santiago (14), Bill Dickey (13) and Yorvit Torrealba (13). At 23 years and 256 days, he became the sixth-youngest catcher with a World Series homer, older than: Yogi Berra (22-143), Johnny Bench (22-308), Bill DeLancey (22-313), Tim McCarver (22-362) and Buster Posey (23-218). At 23 years and 248 days of age, he became the third-youngest catcher in Postseason history to reach base four times in a single game, behind Joe Garagiola (20-240 on Oct. 10, 1946) and Buster Posey (23-207 on Oct. 20, 2010). Ranks first on the all-time Postseason list among D-backs' catchers in hits, homers, RBI, runs (six) and extra-base hits (five).

2022

Hit .319 (22-for-69)/.356 OBP with one double, one home run and seven RBI in 25 games over his first 2 Major League stints with the Blue Jays...Became the third player in Blue Jays history to notch multiple three-hit performances within his first 5 MLB games June 17 vs. Yankees (also: Travis Snider in 2008 and Pat Borders in 1988)...Threw out 7-of-17 (41 pct.) attempted base stealers with Toronto...Spent majority of the season with Triple-A Buffalo, batting .315 (75-for238)/.806 OPS with 16 doubles, three homers and 39 RBI in 62 games…threw out 18-of-44 attempted base stealers (41 pct.) with the Bisons...Slugged his first career Major League home run on the final day of the 2022 regular season Oct. 5 @ Orioles in Game 1 of a doubleheader....Finished the year rated by Baseball America as the Blue Jays' top prospect and No. 3 overall.

2021

Appeared in seven Spring Training games, going 2-for-9 (.222) with a strikeout... Split the season between FCL Blue Jays (two games), Double-A New Hampshire (32 games) and Triple-A Buffalo (three games)... Combined to hit .367 with 10 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 45 RBI in just 37 contests (.434 OBP, .626 SLG, 1.060 OPS)... Placed on the injured with a fractured thumb from June 30-Sept. 24... Played 22 games for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League...Hits .329 (28-for-85) with 11 doubles, one home run and 18 RBI for a .904 OPS...Named to the AFL Fall Stars Game where he went 1-for-2 with a run scored. 

2020

Played in one Major League Spring Training game...Spent the season at the club’s alternate training site in Rochester, NY...Added to Toronto’s 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.