On Monday October 13, I had some time to kill after arriving in Scottsdale for business and wandered over to Scottsdale Stadium, just a block from my hotel, where the Arizona Fall League was taking place. As luck had it, the Scottsdale Scorpions were playing and I was able to get press credentials. I conducted a number of interviews with some of the Phillies’ players and coaches who were in attendance. Come back each day to see the latest interview!
Logan Moore is a 24-year old catcher who spent time in Clearwater before being promoted to Reading. A ninth-round selection out of Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, Moore is known for his defensive work behind the plate but has been steadily improving with his bat, reaching career highs in homers, RBI, and SLG% in 2014.
Ian Riccaboni, Phillies Nation: What’s it like being selected to play in the Arizona Fall League with some of the top prospects in baseball?
Logan Moore: It’s a dream come true to be getting to the next level, the next step career-wise. It’s pretty awesome being with everyone here. Everyone’s really good competition and it’s been a lot of fun so far and I’m real happy to be here.
IR, PN: Hitting-wise, you took a big step forward in 2014 (four homers in Reading after being promoted, career-high .358 slugging). What do you attribute that to? Does it change from level to level?
LM: I think, as you keep playing in the system, you learn things, what you need to do. You come to the field, compete, and work. Basically, knowing and having a routine is a big thing for me. I mean, you can always be better. I just stick to a plan and work through it, try to get better.
IR, PN: The Phillies have drafted a few catchers in recent years with high draft picks including yourself. Is there any pressure knowing that there are other talented players, like yourself, Cameron Rupp being someone in the Triple-A level down through Andrew Knapp and Gabriel Lino?
LM: I just control what I can control and I just worry about myself. The front office has plans for everybody and whether I’m with this team or for other teams also, I can only do what I can do, keep playing harder.
IR, PN: In the Arizona Fall League, you’re playing with a lot of pitchers you’ve never played with before or caught before. Of course, there’s Adam Morgan and Colton Murray and other Phillies’ pitchers but how do you or what do you do to learn a pitcher’s repertoire?
LM: I’d say that’s the toughest part about being here is catching guys you haven’t caught and just trying as much as you can to get information about what they throw, what they like to do in counts, and their put away pitch. Getting to know that, those few things really help, but other than that, you just have to trust your hands and the gameplan when they’re only throwing a certain number of pitches. That’s certainly the hardest part about playing in this league. In the first week, we’ve had some rough spots but it’s going to get better as (the catchers) get to know (the pitchers).
IR, PN: Do you anticipate using any of the scouting information you gained during next season with your own teammates know that you know some of the pitchers routines?
LM: Definitely. It’s not going to hurt knowing their stuff and what they throw. We’ll probably use it a little bit (laughs).
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