Tennessee baseball's Christian Moore should be in SEC player of the year race. Here's why
Christian Moore shook his head. If Moore had any sense of disbelief, it was fair.
The Tennessee baseball slugger had bashed a ball over the batter's eye at Lindsey Nelson for the second straight at-bat against South Carolina on Thursday. He crossed the plate to greet Billy Amick with a slight shake of his head, having made a case as he headed back to the Tennessee dugout.
Moore should be squarely in the conversation for the SEC player of the year award.
“I think everyone wants to be SEC player of the year," Moore said after No. 1 Tennessee (44-10, 20-8 SEC) disposed of No. 23 South Carolina 9-3 to open the series. "I think that is a goal you always set for yourself. I even set that goal for myself my freshman year."
The race is viewed largely as a two-man race between Georgia's Charlie Condon and Florida's Jac Caglianone. Condon is homering at an absurd pace. Caglianone is a two-way treat. Both are deserving candidates to be sure — but it should be a three-man race, with Moore smack dab in it.
“I don’t know," Moore said. "I know there is a really good kid over at Georgia that hits a lot of home runs, too. If (Condon) wins or even Cags or whoever, good for them. We are all friends. I wish them the best of luck.”
Moore has an SEC-best 19 homers in conference play after his two-homer game against the Gamecocks (33-19, 13-15). He has hit 11 of those 19 home runs on the road, including a three-homer game at Kentucky to clinch that pivotal series for the Vols. He also leads the SEC in RBIs, hits and batting average in conference games.
He's having a generational season for the Vols, who haven't had a player win SEC player of the year since Chris Burke in 2001.
Perhaps the most impressive element of Moore's season is that he is doing the vast majority of his damage in SEC games. He has hit only seven of his program-record 26 homers this season in nonconference games. Likewise, Moore has 40 of his 59 RBIs in SEC play. He's not feasting on lesser opponents. He's punishing the best of the best.
He's the tone-setting player leading off for the nation's No. 1 team and the top offense.
“That is kind of my game," Moore said. "I love being leadoff. I love setting the tone and being that guy that has his hair on fire."
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In fairness, the award in all likelihood won't be voted based solely on SEC stats,. Condon has 34 homers, an outlandish figure. He's also lapping the field in OPS, slugging and on-base percentage. He's on his way to likely being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He is the player to beat.
That is what Moore is up against for the award. But this much is certain: The second baseman and the best home run hitter in Tennessee history should be in the discussion for the best player in the nation's premier baseball conference.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball's Christian Moore has case to be SEC player of year
