Christian Moore inks deal with Angels after being picked 8th overall

Former Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore is officially a member of the Los Angeles Angles organization after coming to a contract agreement on Friday.

The second baseman inked his first professional contract for $4,997,500. The slot value for the eighth overall selection in the Major League Baseball Draft was set at $6,502,800 – meaning, Moore signed for $1,505,300 under slot value.

It’s a win for the Angels, who saved over a million dollars with the top-10 selection and a win for Moore who was picked by an organization with a quick path to the big leagues. Shortly after the draft, it was reported that Moore will start at the keystone as a professional instead of shifting to the outfield like some projections assumed.

With the eighth overall selection in last weekend’s draft, the former Vol becomes the highest draft pick for Tennessee since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016.

Moore became the 20th first round first round pick in Tennessee program history and the fifth of the Tony Vitello era. Tennessee’s Chase Dollander was taken ninth overall by the Rockies in 2023, Drew Gilbert 28th overall by the Astros in 2022, Jordan Beck 38th by the Rockies in 2022 and Garrett Crochet 11th overall by the White Sox in 2020.

The second baseman was slated No. 13 in the final draft rankings by MLB.com. Moore was ranked 12th overall by the final rendition from Baseball America.

Moore, the Triple Crown award winner for Southeastern Conference play, was one of college baseball’s best players in 2024, scorching the baseball for 34 home runs and 74 runs batted in from the leadoff spot. His .375 batting average was four ticks lower than teammate Blake Burke, who led the squad.

The infielder also recorded just the second cycle ever in a College World Series game against Florida State on June 14, but it was his fifth hit of the day that was most important – a double where he turned around to score the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Burke’s two-run single.

Moore hauled in three first-team All-American accolades and two more second-team honors following the 2024 season. He was also named to the All-Southeastern Conference Team at second base. He also finished his Tennessee career as the program-record holder with 61 home runs and 34 in a single season.

The former Tennessee slugger was one of eight draft picks for the Vols in 2024.