Mitch Moreland, Infield


Date of Birth: 9/6/1985
Birthplace: Amory, Mississippi
College: Mississippi State University

Mitch Moreland, infielder, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2007. After almost four years in the minor leagues, he was called up to the Rangers in 2010 to play in 47 games with them.

In 2011, his first full season in the major leagues, Moreland batted .259 with 120 hits, 22 doubles, 16 home runs, and 51 RBIs in 134 games. In 2013, he batted .232 with 23 home runs and 60 RBIs in 147 games. As a first baseman, he made 96 assists, 1,045 putouts, 108 double plays, and 5 errors with a .996 fielding percentage.

Moreland played in just 52 games with the Rangers in 2014. He finished the season with 41 hits and a .246 batting average.

Moreland had his best season in 2015 with career highs in hits (131), doubles (27), RBIs (85), and batting average (.278). As a first baseman in 120 games, he made 64 assists, 109 double plays, 975 putouts, and 4 errors. He had no hits, 1 RBI, 3 strikeouts, and 2 walks in 13 at-bats in 5 postseason games.

In 2016, Moreland played in 147 games and he batted .233 with 107 hits, 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and 60 RBIs. He batted .250 with 2 hits in 8 at-bats in 3 postseason games. Defensively, as the Rangers' first baseman in 139 games in the regular season, he made 65 assists, 138 double plays, 1,036 putouts, and 2 errors. Those numbers along with a .998 fielding percentage earned him his first Gold Glove.

Moreland became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox a month later, on December 8th. He finished the 2017 season with 125 hits, a career high 34 doubles, 22 home runs, 79 RBIs, 120 strikeouts to 57 walks, and a .246 batting average. Defensively, as a first baseman in 138 games, he made 67 assists, 95 double plays, 938 putouts, and 5 errors. In the postseason, he had 5 hits in 13 at-bats in 4 games.

Moreland elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He signed again with the Red Sox on December 18th. He finished the 2018 season with 99 hits, 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs, 102 strikeouts to 50 walks, and a .245 batting average in 124 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 116 games, he made 68 assists, 52 double plays, 739 putouts, and 2 errors. In the postseason, he had 5 hits, including a double and a home run, and 5 RBIs in 17 at-bats in 11 games. He struck out six times and walked once, and he had a .294 batting average.

Moreland spent time on the DL in 2019 with back strain and with a quad strain. He finished the season with 75 hits, 17 doubles, 19 home runs, 58 RBIs, 74 strikeouts to 34 walks, and a .252 batting average in 91 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 85 games, he made 48 assists, 52 double plays, 556 putouts, and 3 errors.

Moreland became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed once more with the Red Sox on January 28, 2020. He was traded to the San Diego Padres on August 30th. He finished the 2020 season with 36 hits, 9 doubles, 10 home runs, 29 RBIs, 32 strikeouts to 15 walks, and a .265 batting average in 22 games with the Red Sox and 20 games with the Padres. Defensively, he played 38 games at first base. In the postseason, he batted .500 in 8 at-bats in 4 games.

Moreland elected free agency on November 1, 2020. He signed with the Oakland Athletics on February 23, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 52 hits, 30 RBIs, 58 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a .227 batting average in 81 games.

Moreland became a free agent on November 3, 2021.

Career batting statistics for Moreland through 2021 include:

  • 1,260 games played
  • 1,020 hits
  • 219 doubles
  • 186 home runs
  • 618 RBIs
  • 975 strikeouts to 385 walks
  • .251 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Moreland at first base through 2021 include:

  • 1,045 games played
  • 566 assists
  • 778 double plays
  • 7,452 putouts
  • 34 errors
  • .996 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mitch Moreland
ESPN - Mitch Moreland