A breakout 2016 season earned Andrew Moore an invitation to the Seattle Mariners' major-league camp this spring.
The Arkansas Travelers right-hander, who was 12-4 with 2.65 ERA and 133 strikeouts while walking 31 in 163 innings pitched at Class A and Class AA a year ago, was one of 18 nonroster invitees to the Mariners' camp in Peoria, Ariz. For the organization's No. 5 prospect, according to MLB.com, the experience of working with former All-Stars Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma was great.
"It was a really loose group," Moore said. "Every morning, we'd start with a morning meeting, cracking jokes and throwing all kinds of funny lines in there. It was cool to have that loose atmosphere. You were seeing people's personalities coming through early on. You got to know them.
"Once we got going, I'd pick their brains a ton working on stuff. [James] Paxton worked with me on my curveball. The veteran guys were willing to give information and help out the younger guys. That's a huge testament to their character."
Moore, a second-round pick by Seattle in 2015 from Oregon State, picked up where he left off last season in the Travelers' season opener Thursday night against the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Moore, 22, allowed 1 hit in 6 innings and struck out 7. He did not allow a hit through 5⅔ innings until Garrett Stubbs singled, but he received a no-decision after the Travs bullpen couldn't hold a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 loss.
Arkansas Manager Daren Brown, who managed Moore last season at Class AA Jackson, has been impressed.
"He throws all of his pitches for strikes," Brown said. "He can throw them at any time. He does a nice job competing. He's very good at understanding what a hitter is looking for and competing against that. He was really solid for us last year.
"He'll give you a chance. That's all you can ask for."
Moore, 6-0, 185 pounds, is scheduled to make his second start today for the Travs in the second game of a doubleheader against San Antonio today at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. The first game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
Last season, Moore was 9-3 with a 3.16 ERA with Jackson and led the Generals to two victories in the Southern League playoffs.
This season, Moore has worked on his curveball and slider with Travs pitching coach Ethan Katz.
"Last year, they morphed into the same pitch," Moore said. "So we're working on that right now."
Catcher Tyler Marlette, who caught Moore at Jackson and in his first start Thursday, said Moore's strength is his fastball, which allows him to get ahead of hitters.
"The kid is real good," Marlette said. "I expect him to be a big threat for us."
Moore is a native of Eugene, Ore., 282 miles south of Seattle. He grew up as a Mariners fan and said it would be awesome to pitch for his favorite team in his home region of the Pacific Northwest.
"I've already had a lot of people ask me when I'm going to get called up. I said I had zero clue," Moore said. "Last year when I was in Tennessee, I had a lot of people listen back home or watch and follow every single start. They'd text me after every start. Having that support is huge.
"If I do get a chance to pitch in Seattle, it would be awesome. It would mean a lot to me."
Sports on 04/11/2017