Matt Moore

The eighth-round pick who set Rays minor league strikeout records and became a 2013 All-Star before Tommy John surgery altered his career trajectory.

Matthew Cody Moore is an American professional pitcher born on June 18, 1989, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After his family moved to Okinawa and later Edgewood, New Mexico, he committed to the University of New Mexico before being selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB draft. Moore signed a $115,000 contract and rapidly ascended through the minor leagues, setting multiple strikeout records for the Rays' farm system. He made his major league debut on September 14, 2011, and secured a historic five-year, $14 million guaranteed contract in December of that year. His tenure with the Rays included an All-Star selection in 2013 before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the entire 2014 season.

Quick Facts

Team: Kansas City Royals
Position: Pitcher
Born: 18 June 1989
Birthplace: Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: September 14
Debut year: 2011

Lore & Background

Moore's time in Tampa Bay was defined by rapid ascent and historic peaks. In 2013, he achieved a rare feat: becoming the first left-handed American League pitcher to start a season with an 8–0 record at age 23 or younger since Babe Ruth in 1917. That same year, he tied Max Scherzer for the most wins in the AL with 13 and earned his first All-Star selection, replacing Yu Darvish by retiring Carlos González, Yadier Molina, and Troy Tulowitzki in just nine pitches.

His dominance was evident early; on June 15, 2012, he combined with relievers to pitch a one-hit shutout against the Miami Marlins. However, durability became an issue after his elbow trouble surfaced during a July 28 game against the New York Yankees. He underwent Tommy John surgery on April 22, 2014, missing the entire season. His return in 2015 was rocky, with an 8.78 ERA in his first six starts before he found stability in the minors, striking out a franchise-record 16 batters in a single game for Durham.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Moore's path from prospect to veteran, several key data points define his Rays era. He was drafted 245th overall in 2007 but quickly rose, posting a 1.66 ERA and 77 strikeouts in just over 54 innings as a rookie in 2008. By 2009, he led the South Atlantic League with 176 strikeouts. His minor league career peaked in 2010 with 208 strikes for the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, the most in that league since 1971.

In the majors, his 2013 season stands out: a 17–4 record, 3.29 ERA, and an All-Star nod. The contract signed on December 9, 2011, was significant as the largest ever guaranteed to a pitcher with less than two years of service time. His final start for the Rays came in the exhibition game against Cuba in March 2016, where President Barack Obama attended and received one of Moore's gloves. Following that season, on August 1, 2016, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Matt Duffy and prospects Lucius Fox and Michael Santos.

Did You Know?

Moore pitched the first franchise no-hitter for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits on June 16, 2011, against the Mobile BayBears.
On August 23, 2015, while rehabbing with Triple-A Durham, Moore struck out 16 batters in a single game, setting a franchise record.
In his first MLB start on September 22, 2011, Moore became the first pitcher in history to record 11 strikeouts in five innings or fewer against the New York Yankees.