Christian Moore is heading to the big leagues a year after he was drafted, UT announced June 12.
The former Tennessee baseball superstar rocketed through the minor leagues to reach the major leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, who called Moore up. The Angels picked Moore No. 8 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, which made him the highest-drafted player under coach Tony Vitello.
Moore was called up following a torrid but brief stay at Triple-A Salt Lake City. He hit .350 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 20 games. He played 34 games with Double-A Rocket City in Huntsville before he was promoted to Salt Lake City.
He is hitting .302 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs in 79 career minor-league games. He debuted with High-A Inland Empire before reaching Double-A last season after he was drafted.
Moore had one of the best seasons in Tennessee history in 2024. The junior second baseman slugged a program-record 34 homers, while setting the career record with 61. The Brooklyn native hit .375 with 74 RBIs, which ranks seventh in a single-season in Vols history. He had 19 doubles and two triples.
He is the ninth Vol from the Tony Vitello era to reach the MLB and the seventh from Tennessee’s 2022 team. He is the third to debut this season.
Pitcher Chase Dollander was called up by the Colorado Rockies in April and debuted on April 6 against the Athletics. Pitcher Blade Tidwell was called up in May by the New York Mets and started against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 4.
Pitcher Garrett Crochet debuted with the Chicago White Sox in 2020 when he skipped the minor leagues and debuted in the same year he was drafted No. 11 overall. He earned an all-star bid in 2024 as a star starter for the White Sox. Andre Lipcius made his debut on Sept. 1, 2023 with the Detroit Tigers, who drafted Lipcius in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft with the No. 83 pick.
Ben Joyce made it to the majors with the Los Angeles Angels on May 29, 2023, less than a year after he was drafted in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Three Vols reached the majors in 2024.
Trey Lipscomb debuted with the Washington Nationals on March 30, 2024. He was picked in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Jordan Beck, who was the No. 38 pick in the 2022 draft, made his debut with the Colorado Rockies on April 30, 2024. Seth Halvorsen was called up on Aug. 30, 2024, and made his debut a day later with the Colorado Rockies.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it