Right handed pitcher Xavier Moore took the time to talk with NEO Sports Insiders about his journey to becoming a professional ballplayer.
His dream came true on Wednesday, June 14, when the Texas Rangers selected him in the 16th round.
Q: Where were you when you got the call that you were drafted?
X: I was actually swimming with my girlfriend when I got the call. It was just like any other day. The first day I kind of knew I wasn’t gonna’ go because that day’s for the “big boys.” The second day we had kind of a better understanding and thought maybe I was gonna’ go the second day. We were getting calls from the Padres and they were talking about taking me in the sixth round.
That didn’t work out. Then they talked about taking me in the eighth and that didn’t work out. (The two sides were split financially.) On the third day, we knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when. So we just laid around and waited a little bit. I was swimming and my girlfriend was like “I think your phone’s going off!”
So I thought it was probably a team and then I saw it was the Rangers and figured they must have just taken me. Roger Coryell, their area scout said “Hey, Xavier. We just took you in the 16th round. There will be some guys calling you later on.” And that’s how it happened. It was a numbing feeling. It’s been my dream since I was seven years old. I’m just beyond blessed.
Q: You said it’s been your dream since you were seven years old, but was this something that you always knew deep down “this is going to happen”? Did you know even as a little kid you were going to make it pro?
X: To be completely honest, No. I didn’t even know college baseball was going to be an option, but I did know I was really good. I knew I had what it takes. It was going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of praying. It was also a matter of just kind of getting with the right guys. I got with the Lake Erie Warhawks (travel baseball club).
Coach Adrian Abrahamowicz is great for getting scouts out to come see their players. I guess I was just in the right spot at the right time and I got the scholarship to Ohio State. I kind of just took it from there. I became better each year and like I said I’m just beyond blessed.
Q: You mentioned Roger Coryell as the scout from the Rangers who saw you. How many times did he see you before the draft? It seems like there’s a connection between the Rangers organization and Amherst, since Ryan Rua (also graduate of Amherst Steele) was drafted by the Rangers in 2011.
X: He first saw me last summer, when I played with the Midland Redskins (a travel team which has featured 76 MLB players in its history, including Ken Griffey Jr.) A lot of big name guys played for this organization. Coryell first saw me down there.
I guess he heard my name from somewhere and then I threw a bullpen session for him. I guess he was impressed because he came and saw me again during the summer season. I actually did a showcase called the Super 60 with Prep Baseball Report. There were 120 MLB scouts there.
They saw me and I’m guessing Roger saw what he liked there, too. He came and checked me out during the high school season (2017) and came to four of my starts. I had three good ones and one bad one, which was the district final. (Amherst lost 2-1, Moore gave up two runs on six hits. Only one hit reached the outfield. That’s a “bad start” compared to Moore’s usual standards.)
After that game, I was kind of like “I don’t know if I left a bad taste in his mouth or what.” So I was sitting waiting to be drafted on the third day, 16th round comes, and they take me. It was just a blessing and I knew that it could happen, but I didn’t know for sure that it would happen.
Q: When it came time to choose between signing with the Rangers or going to play college ball at Ohio State, how tough was that decision, especially considering the really talented freshman class they have going in there, with guys like Dillon Dinger (Massillon Jackson), Juan Broom (Willoughby South) and others?
X: For me, that decision was all based on belief in myself and just knowing what I can do. Ohio State does have a great class coming in like you said. Seth Lonsway was another great OSU commit who was drafted in the 19th round. The talent is definitely there (for Ohio State). For me, it was just believing in myself and knowing what I’m going to do. For my situation, money wasn’t really the issue, but going to a team that you like and have chemistry with.
Roger and Brian Williams (Texas Rangers crosschecker) came to my house and we had a home visit. I feel like we really connected and that’s what it’s all about. Actually yesterday I was going through my phone that I had two years ago and I saw that I screenshotted some Rangers gear. Like I was looking at buying some Rangers gear and I was like “What! This is meant to be.” I felt like it was God’s calling.
My family and I talked it over and we felt like it was the best decision. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was seven years old, so why bypass that opportunity? Also, the Rangers agreed to pay for my school, so that was huge. They’re willing to pay for my school if baseball doesn’t work out, but we’re going to try to make this work out. Everybody gets told sooner or later they have to hang up their jersey. Hopefully mine is a lot later.
Q: Has Ryan Rua reached out to you in this process?
X: Oh yeah. Me and Rua are very close. He comes down when he’s back in town from the Rangers and he works out at Amherst’s facility. I got to know him, got his number and had some talks with him about pro ball before the season started. He was like “You know, this might be something you might get the opportunity to do. When you do get that opportunity, we just want to make sure you know what you’re getting into.”
He guided me throughout the process and I talked to him when they drafted me. First off, I think that’s just awesome to have a guy and someone who grew with their organization that can kind of guide me in. Basically what he was saying was “If this is really what you want to do and you want to start to grow early right out of high school, then just go with it, man. Who cares about the money? I signed for less out of college than you did. It’s just about believing in yourself and it’s all going to come back to you with the work you’re going to put in.”
Q: This whole process must have been so hectic for you. One day you’re finishing high school, before you know it you’re drafted. Saturday (June 17), you’re having a graduation party. Monday, you leave for Arizona to join the Rangers’ Minor League system. What has this process been like for your family and everyone around you?
X: Oh, man. It’s been a crazy few days. It’s stressful as a family because first off my parents want to make the right decision for their kid. At first, there was a thought to not even take the Rangers. My family was like “You need to go to school and get your education. Maybe you can get more money after college.” But the next day we all woke up and it was like “You know what, this is what you’ve wanted to do since you were seven years old. This is what all that hard work was for. Just give it a shot, give it your all, and if it doesn’t work out, you’ve still got college to fall back on.”
The process has also been awesome at the same time. Every kid wants to hear their name called out of high school or college. For it to happen to me, to be the first high school kid selected in this year’s draft out of Ohio, it’s something I’ll never forget. It’s just going to motivate me and drive me throughout my career.
Q: So everyone knows you’re one of the best aces in the state, you have the 92-93 MPH fastball and the nasty slider, breaking ball, etc. But you’re also a really good hitter, as well. Has there been any thought or consideration if pitching doesn’t end up being your route down the road that you would play an infield/outfield position?
X: I used to be a shortstop, but right now, the Rangers just have me as a pitcher. They’ve seen me hit. Actually at one of the games they scouted me, I hit a home run, so I guess they can see the bat’s there. But right now, we’re just focused on pitching and hoping that works out because it’s my best ability.
If it ever came down to it, I would definitely be up for (being a position player) in that situation, but until they tell me this game has passed you up, I’m definitely going to do everything I can to stay in the game.
Q: Earlier you mentioned guys like Coach Abrahamowicz as a mentor, helping you in this process. So I wanted to ask you about some of the figures who helped you get to this point because in order to make it to this day, it obviously starts first and foremost with your hard work and talent, but also it’s a credit to all of the great people around you who have helped along the way. Who are some people you’d like to thank for making this become reality?
X: My first year in travel ball was actually with Coach Abrahamowicz and I didn’t know I was going to go pro, but he kind of got the scouts to come see me and I guess I performed. He did such a great job. He would let me use the facility and just did all he could to help me make my dream come true because he knew I wanted to go pro. He knew it since day one.
As far as other people to thank, I hope you’re ready because there’s a lot of people. First off, I would like to thank God. I’m a very religious person and a follower of Christ. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this situation.
Also, I’d like to thank my father for being such a big part of my life. He taught me the game of baseball, showed me the right way to go about my business. Endless hours of workouts, going to the park and him saying “Hey, son. Let’s go play catch.” And spending his time with me. I would not be in the position I am today if it wasn’t for him.
Obviously I’d like to thank my mother. She was always staying on me, staying on my grades and my studies. She made sure I was taking care of business in the classroom, that it wasn’t “Athlete-Student”, but “Student-Athlete.” Student comes first. I have to thank her for making me the man I am today. She made sure I was a good kid off the field.
I also want to thank my grandma. Grandma has definitely been a big part of my life. I do it all for her. She always believed in me. She’s my number one fan and it’s always good to have fans. It’s always good to have a great support system.
I also have to thank my coaches, Coach Matt Rositano at Amherst, for shaping me into the person I am today and making sure that I’m working hard and giving my all.
(Moore is off to Arizona to join the Rangers’ farm system, but he’ll have a familiar face not too far away when he gets there.)
I actually have a brother that lives in Arizona. I’m going to be in Surprise, AZ and he lives in Mesa, about an hour away. It’s always good to have family and people you relate to who can be there for you like if I have a bad game and need someone to talk to. That was another big part of the decision, too. I wanted to be in Arizona more than Florida.
.@X_Moore27 is officially a Texas Ranger as he signs today at his graduation party! pic.twitter.com/7TmhenVBUU
— Amherst Baseball (@ASHSBaseball) June 17, 2017
**Congratulations to Xavier, his family, and everyone involved in his journey so far. Best of luck on the Road to the Show!**
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