2024 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #24 INF Alex Mooney

What's the ceiling for the $1M man from the 2023 draft?

Alex Mooney Bio

• Age (2024 season): 21

• Acquired: 2023 Draft (Round 7)

• 2023 Level: College/Low-A

• Height: 6’1

• Weight: 196

• Bats: Right

• Throws: Right

Alex Mooney Stats

• PA: 311

• AVG/OBP/SLG: .315/.434/.504

• 2B: 20

• HR: 8

• SB: 21/26

• K%/BB%: 11.6%/14%

Alex Mooney 2024 Scouting Grades

• Hit: 45

• Power: 40

• Speed: 55

• Defense: 50

• Arm: 55

• Overall: 40

• Risk: Moderate

• ETA: 2026

Build & Background

A solidly built, athletic ballplayer. Good frame, mostly maxed out physical frame. Broader shoulders. Loose actions as a fielder and hitter. Mooney was an impressive high school athlete that had a strong commitment to Duke rather than be tempted by being drafted in 2021. He was a draft eligible sophomore in 2023 where the Guardians grabbed him in the seventh round and committed $1 million to sign him, well over the slot figure of $231,300 for that round. 

What Mooney Does Well

Solid skill across the board. Calm, confident heartbeat in the box. Strong hands that he uses well, good bat speed. Good contact ability with solid swing decisions and pitch recognition. Shows moderate pop. Above average speed down the first base line. Athletic actions at shortstop and enough arm for the left side of the infield.

https://x.com/11point7/status/1649578707697164289?s=20

https://x.com/samjcapobianco/status/1646978178177552384?s=20

https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1637568652152311808?s=20

Where Mooney Needs to Improve

Pop comes mostly pull side and needs to show better handling of breaking stuff. Should be able to handle short, but defense may shine more at other positions. Doesn’t have a standout tool.

Key Stats

Mooney can certainly punish a baseball. Baseball America found that he hit .364/.480/.615 against fastballs 92+ in 2023 in college. So there’s a good chance if he’s sitting dead red, he can punish the ball.

Intangibles

Mooney has several traits that make him a leader on the baseball field. He’s confident, plays with grit and enthusiasm. Well liked by teammates. Humbled by struggles as a freshman in college. He played big time college baseball in the ACC at a high level and on the Cape in 2022

Future

Playing at age 21 in 2024, Mooney really needs to be challenged at High-A. There’s a fairly safe floor with a player like Mooney. Given his college experience, he’s ready for that and Cleveland was obviously very confident in Mooney to commit $1M to him out of the draft, potentially even costing them Mac Heuer (Texas Tech) and Ryan Marohn (NC State) who could have been big parts of their 2023 draft class. Mooney probably has a floor of a utility infielder with some right handed pop and could be a second division starter at second base or short, though might not have enough pop to handle third. He’ll get the most out of his skills and tools though as more of a ‘greater sum of his parts than any individual tool’ type player with his effort, grit and high baseball IQ.

Role 

40 - Utility infielder with pop, fringe up the middle starter