Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno sets niche but impressive franchise record

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has been one of the sport’s most consistent hitters over the past couple of months, and the franchise record he set on Wednesday was a testament to that.

With an infield single during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Moreno reached base safely in 44 consecutive starts, which tied Corbin Carroll for the Diamondbacks’ record. Carroll accomplished the feat in 2024.

On Wednesday, Moreno crushed a two-run home run to center field to set the record at 45 games, and counting.

Moreno has reached base safely in 26 straight games played, MLB’s longest active streak.

Additionally, Moreno is the first catcher in MLB to reach base safely in 45 straight starts since 2014, when Jonathan Lucroy extended his streak to 49 games for the Milwaukee Brewers.

It is not a hitting streak or a home runs record that fans are more likely to remember, but it does tell a story about Moreno’s steadiness in a lineup that has lacked such a quality for much of the season.

Moreno entered Wednesday second in MLB with a .344 batting average since June 2, when the streak started, and he was third with a .437 on-base percentage. He is seeing the most pitches per at-bat on the Diamondbacks to make pitchers work and come in the strike zone, and his ability to hit to all fields continues to be a strength he is improving on.

Even after he missed half of April with an oblique strain, Moreno entered Tuesday second among all MLB catchers with 3.0 wins above replacement (FanGraphs), trailing only Dillon Dingler of the Detroit Tigers.

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