PHOENIX -- Gabriel Moreno’s 2026 season ended with a left hamstring injury, but the Diamondbacks catcher had already done enough to leave a clear imprint on Arizona’s push for the postseason.
Moreno was in the lineup for 23 straight games as the club made its late-season charge, and during that run he put together a scorching .348/.416/.573 slash line while locking up the National League batting title. That body of work earned him First Team All-MLB honors Wednesday night at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards.
The All-MLB honors, created in 2019, are designed to spotlight the best players at each position over the full regular season. Unlike the All-Star Game, which is based on first-half performance, this recognition is built around what players did across the entire year. Fans helped select the First and Second Team choices at each position on MLB.com, with nominees competing for spots that included three outfielders, a designated hitter, five starting pitchers and two relievers.
Moreno’s selection reflects more than just the bat that carried him to the batting crown. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo spent the season watching a player who stayed locked in whether he was catching or serving as the designated hitter.
"I've asked a lot of him," Lovullo said toward the end of the season. "Those days where he hasn't been catching, he's been DHing, and he hasn't batted an eye.
I think he's just stayed in rhythm with a swing all year long. He is taking care of his body off the field, and it's translated into everyday at-bats.
"I think what's working there is an all-field approach, and you just can't pitch to him. He checks off a pitch, stays in counts, and he can rifle a ball down the right-field line just as fast as he can hit a ball in the left-center-field gap."
Lovullo also pointed to Moreno’s growth behind the plate as a major part of his value.
"He means so much more than just the batting average to this team,” Lovullo said. “It's the growth and development from behind the plate, commanding the English language and being able to go out and have good conversations with pitchers, and lead while he's back there. On top of that, we know that he's a good hitter."
Earlier this month, Moreno added a Rawlings Gold Glove Award to his season, his second after also winning in 2023 following Arizona’s run to the World Series. He led National League catchers and ranked second in MLB to Detroit’s Dillon Dingler with 14 defensive runs saved, and he paced all catchers with 2.0 defensive wins above replacement, according to Baseball Reference.
Moreno arrived in Arizona before the 2023 season in the trade that sent outfielder Daulton Varsho to Toronto and brought back Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Since then, he has become the Diamondbacks’ starting catcher and a central piece of the club’s trip to the World Series.
Injuries slowed him in 2024 and 2025, but 2026 was his best season yet. Along with the quick release and strong arm that have long helped him control the running game, Moreno continued sharpening his game-calling and his ability to work with different pitchers.
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