Let's look at some stats:

K/9 IP: 27

ERA: 0.00

WHIP: 1.00

How can a guy with numbers like that possibly be overlooked?  The answer; he is a right fielder, not a pitcher.  With Clinton getting blown away 13-3 by Dayton, they called upon Moreland to do some mop up work in the 9th inning.  He promptly struck out the side and yielded just a single to the second batter of the inning.  For good measure, Moreland also went 3-4 with a double at the plate.

Moreland has a background in pitching, but the Rangers drafted him as a power hitting OF/1B and that is exactly what he is becoming.  In fact, Josh Hamilton is not the only member of the Rangers organization to hit 20+ home runs in a derby.  Moreland sent 25 balls out of Red Wilson Field in 2006 as part of the Cape Cod League's Home Run Derby.  Moreland, unlike Hamilton, won the derby he dominated.

The Rangers drafted Moreland out of Mississippi State in the 17th Round of the 2007 amateur draft.  After signing him, they assigned him to the short season Spokane roster.  He put together very modest numbers in 118 plate appearances:

.259/.305/.398, 8 walks, 25 K, 2 HR, 15 RBI

It wasn't the kind of debut that makes heads turn, in either direction, but it was a debut he got out of the way in 2007.  And that is what allowed the Rangers to send him straight to full season ball to start 2008.

Moreland has responded by being the best offensive player for the Clinton Lumberkings.  In a lineup that features more heralded prospects Engel Beltre and Cristian Santana, Moreland has been the star.  His 2008 line has far exceeded what he put together in 2007:

.322/.396/.529, 38 walks, 40 K, 29 2B, 10 HR, 66 RBI

Moreland has put together an almost 1-to-1 walk to strikeout rate while flashing gap power and showing some home run pop.  All of his home runs have come in May and July, and those have been his two big power months all around.  He slugged .559 in May, and has absolutely crushed the ball thus far in July:

.329/.412/.630

That staggering line has come in spite of July being his lowest month in terms of his BABIP.  Another thing that July has seen is Mitch Moreland, the 1st Baseman.  One question about Moreland coming out of MSU was his defensive ability in the OF.  He profiled more as a 1B/DH defensively with his defensive upside being that of an average corner outfielder.  Since Ian Gac's promotion to Bakersfield, Moreland has played virtually all of his innings as a first baseman or DH.  And that is a spot that it is easy to be overshadowed at in this organization.

Chris Davis has already earned a nod as Beasticon, Jr.  Justin Smoak (when he signs) will immediately be one of the Rangers' top prospects.  Max Ramirez was one of the top minor league hitters of '08 before his call up.  JMJ has put together his best minor league season to date.  All 4 of these guys profile as 1B/DH types, with JMJ being a candidate for a corner OF spot as well.  That's a tough list to crack if you're Mitch Moreland.

One positive for Moreland is that there isn't likely to be a lot of playing time at 1B at the stops he figures to make in 2009.  Ian Gac is a level ahead of him now and could be in Bakersfield and/or Frisco next year.  Justin Smoak figures to be a fast riser as well and could be a teammate of Moreland's in Bakersfield to start the season.  The reason this is a plus is it forces Moreland to log lots of innings in RF.  And if, by chance, Moreland can figure out what it takes to be an adequate defensive corner outfielder then he won't be overshadowed for long.

One of the thinner spots in the system is at the corner outfield positions.  Along with 3rd base, right and left field are two spots that a prospect could make big gains at in 2009.  Moreland is in a great spot to do just that.  At 6'2" and 230 pounds, the left handed slugger could instantly become the organization's top corner outfield prospect the second JMJ is out of the picture.

Moreland has made a big stride in 2008 to becoming the offensive player the Rangers hoped they were getting.  His defensive growth will determine exactly where he fits into the Rangers' future.  As a 1st baseman, he is more likely to be traded than to see Arlington for an extended period of time.  But as a right fielder, his future with the Rangers could be much brighter.

If things go well for Moreland and the Rangers, he may be making a cut off throw from the RF corner in Arlington trying to nail a runner at 3rd base in a couple of years.  And you can bet Moreland will have familiarized himself with the guy who would be the potential cut off man.  You see, the Rangers have a recent history with a 17th round pick out of a school the begins with "Miss____."  And, with any luck, Ian Kinsler will cut the throw form his fellow 17th rounder and fire a strike to 3rd to nail the runner.  And as they both get high fives from a former #1 overall pick on the way into the dugout, they will serve as reminders that every pick counts.  Even the overshadowed ones.

Moreland's MILB Page

Moreland's First Inning Page

Recap from Moreland's 2 home run game