Colin Moran has already excelled at the highest level outside of professional baseball, so it should be no surprise if his name is called early in the MLB Draft. He hit .357 and led the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed, the North Carolina Tar Heels, with 13 home runs in the 2013 regular season. He also scored 69 runs and knocked in 84 runs, both team bests. B.J. Surhoff’s nephew appears to have a good eye and bat speed, which could make him a decent power hitter, according to ESPN’s Keith Law. He can work the count and hit to all fields. At third, Moran’s range isn’t going to impress many scouts, but he can field the ball cleanly and make an accurate throw (again according to Law, so his defense might not be a liability. The All-American projects to be a top-10 pick and could even work his way into the top five.
MLB Draft 2013 scouting report round-up: 3B Colin Moran
Moran is one of the key reasons that North Carolina is a favorite to win the national championship.
Mike Stobe
Vital statistics
| Colin Moran | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | High School / College | Consensus Rank |
| 3B | North Carolina (Junior) | 1st round |
| B/T | Birthdate (age) | Height / Weight |
| L/R | 10/1/1992 (20) | 6'3" / 215 |
What they’re saying
- Keith Law, ESPN: “Moran has a great eye and generates good bat speed, with solid extension through the zone for average power or a tick above. He takes a long stride forward in the box but keeps his weight back, also keeping his hands very deep, with good hip rotation as well.”
- Matt Garrioch, Minor League Ball: “He is one of the safer picks in the draft and I would have a hard time seeing him not reach the majors and be a useful major leaguer. While the ceiling isn’t a future star, more of a solid regular, he I expect him to go off the board early.”
- Nick Faleris, Baseball Prospectus: “At his best, he is a tough out at the plate with a knack for squaring-up the ball and provides steady, if unspectacular, glove work at third.”
More from SB Nation:
See More:
