The Seattle Mariners continue to make moves down on the farm, promoting RHP Andrew Moore to Double-A Jackson and RHP Nick Neidert to Class-A Clinton.
Nick Neidert, the Mariners top draft pick from last season, has joined Class A Clinton
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) May 24, 2016
Another minor-league promotion -- Andrew Moore moves up to AA Jackson from Bakersfield. Moore was the Mariners second round pick last year
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) May 24, 2016
Moore and Neidert were the first two players selected by the Mariners in the 2015 MLB draft, with Neidert being taken in the second round (60th overall) and Moore coming twelve picks later in Competitive Balance Round B. Neidert was considered a first-round talent who fell due to injury concerns while Moore was thought to be somewhat of a reach.
Neidert immediately displayed promise, posting a 1.53 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .198 batting average over 35.1 IP in the rookie-level Arizona League last year. He has spent the entirety of his 2016 season in extended spring and the move to Clinton will give us our first look at how he's progressed over his first offseason as a professional ballplayer.
Standing at 6'1" and 185 pounds, Neidert isn't an intimidating presence on the mound, but his fastball sits at 92-94 and will occasionally run up to 96. The changeup is advanced for someone his age, as well, and most of the question marks for him fall to how his breaking ball has progressed.
Moore, meanwhile, has done everything possible to make those who deemed him a reach look silly. The Oregon State product set fire to the short season Northwest League in 2015, posting a 2.29 FIP and a 43:2 SO/BB ratio in 39.0 IP for the Everett Aqua Sox. Moore carried that momentum into 2016 with High-A Bakersfield, finishing his stay with the Blaze with a 1.65 ERA over 54.2 IP in the hitter-friendly California League.
As of now, Moore's projection still appears to be a sturdy back of the rotation starter with plus-command, but if he continues his dominance against the significantly tougher competition of the Southern League that could change.
goms.