On December 23, 2022, Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen completed one of the most important trades in recent franchise history.
He agreed to send outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Moreno was a prospect at the time, but he was MLB-ready.
While Varsho went on to struggle in his first season in Canada, both Gurriel and Moreno were crucial in the D-Backs’ current run.
Moreno excelled as a defensive catcher and hit .284/.339/.408 with seven home runs, 19 doubles, and a solid .747 OPS; while Gurriel hit a career-high 24 home runs and drove in 82 runs in the regular season.
Moreno has also been a major factor in the postseason, with three round-trippers and a 1.107 OPS in five games.
The team got a scare on Wednesday when he was removed from NLDS Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a right hand contusion.
He was struck on the right hand by a foul tip behind the plate.
Fortunately for the young star, he is fine and made sure to announce it to the world via the team’s official Twitter account.
The people were asking for a Gabi update. ? pic.twitter.com/wR76HmmmPe
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 12, 2023
He said that the hand is okay, and that tests performed on it all came back negative.
There are no fractures, just a bit of soreness for the time being.
Still, the player himself said he will be available for the rest of the playoffs.
If Arizona wants to play in the World Series, they absolutely need a healthy Moreno.
They just swept the Los Angeles Dodgers and can compete with either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies, whoever wins the other Division Series in the National League.
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