Victor Moreno (minors04)

Victor Hugo Moreno

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 240 lb.

• Born June 10, 1979 in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo Venezuela

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Victor Moreno has reached AAA in the minors.

Moreno was signed initially by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997. He pitched for the DSL Diamondbacks in 1998, going 4-6 with a 3.75 ERA. In 1999, he was with the DSL D-backs (1-4, 4.04) and AZL Diamondbacks (1-2, 2 Sv, 9.90). He moved to the Philadelphia Phillies chain that off-season, presumably being released by Arizona and signed by Philadelphia. In 2000, he went 5-2 with 2 saves and a 2.40 ERA for La Victoria in the Venezuelan Summer League. Victor allowed only 47 hits in 71 innings, though he walked 44. He struck out 96, easily leading the VSL.

Moreno spent his 4th pro season with the GCL Phillies, going 4-2 with a 1.69 ERA and .205 opponent average in 15 relief appearances. In 2002, the right-hander was 3-3 with 5 saves for the Batavia Muckdogs, allowing a .197 average and fanning 34 in 26 2/3 IP. He also walked 21, though, helping his ERA rise to 3.71. Moreno pitched 7 games for the Lakewood BlueClaws, giving up no runs and striking out 13 in 10 innings; he was 1-0 with a save for them.

The Minnesota Twins picked Victor in the minor league portion of the 2002 Rule V draft. He spent 2003 with the Fort Myers Miracle (3-1, 2.03, .212 average, 32 K in 26 2/3 IP) and New Britain Rock Cats (1-1, 6.95 in 24 G), finally making it to AA in his 6th season in professional baseball.

Moreno split 2004 between New Britain (7-2, 2 Sv, 2.27, .207 average, 86 K in 75 1/3 IP) and the Rochester Red Wings (1-0, 6.35 in 6 G). He was again selected in the minor league section of the Rule V draft, this time by the Oakland Athletics, his 4th franchise.

In 2005, the Venezuelan spent a full year at AAA, going 4-2 with 2 saves and a 4.50 ERA for the Sacramento RiverCats. He averaged almost a strikeout per inning but control remained an issue; despite being a reliever, he led Sacramento with 46 walks.

In the Venezuelan League that winter, he went 11-3 with a 3.89 ERA for the Tigres de Aragua, then picked up the win in the final game of the 2006 Caribbean Series.

Moreno made the Venezuelan roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic but struggled in his lone outing. He relieved Giovanni Carrara with a 6-0 deficit against the Cuban national team with two outs in the 6th inning; as Johan Santana and Carrara had been unable to stifle the Cubans, not much was likely expected of Moreno. He allowed a single to Ariel Borrero then got Carlos Tabares to ground out to end the inning. In the 7th, Victor gave up a single to Eduardo Paret and another single to Michel Enriquez. He retired Yulieski Gourriel but Osmani Urrutia singled home Paret. Yoandy Garlobo grounded the runners over, then Ricardo Palma relieved Moreno.

In the 2006 season, Moreno pitched for Sacramento, going 5-4 with 4 saves and a 5.38 ERA in 14 starts and 20 relief appearances, his most frequent use as a starter ever. Moreno allowed a .299 average but improved his control (41 BB in 100 1/3 IP).

Moreno was 6-3 with two saves for Aragua in the 2006-2007 Venezuelan campaign. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and assigned to the Norfolk Tides for 2007, going 2-5 with 3 saves and a 5.06 ERA in 39 appearances. After spending another winter with Aragua, he struggled in the 2008 Caribbean Series. He gave up a game-losing homer to Nelson Cruz to break a 1-1 tie and lose game 4. In game 6, he helped blow the game to the Yaquis de Obregón after relieving Andrew Lorraine in the 9th.

Moreno spent 2008 with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico but gave up 14 hits and 10 runs in 6 innings, saving one game before his release. He went 3-1 with 3 saves and a 4.20 ERA for Aragua in the winter of 2008-2009 but then was 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA in the playoffs and won the decisive game 7 over the Leones del Caracas to give the Tigres the title. He was placed on Venezuela's preliminary roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Moreno was 0-1 with 4 saves and a 9.35 ERA in 10 games for the 2009 Campeche Pirates. He walked 9 in 8 2/3 IP. He was then let go and signed with Fortitudo Bologna in Italy, replacing Eddy Rodriguez. He debuted on May 15, tossing the final two innings of a combined shutout with Jesus Matos; he fanned 4 in getting the save against Grosseto. Moreno tossed 3 2/3 shutout innings for Bologna in the 2009 European Cup as they finished second.

Moreno became a pitching coach with the DSL Brewers in 2017-2019. He was scheduled to be pitching coach for the DSL Brewers/Blue Jays in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to Covid-19.