Former MCC players reunite on professional baseball team

Two former Meridian Community College baseball players were among the Major League Baseball Draft picks this 2008 season. The Washington Nationals selected infielfer Tyler Moore in the 16th round out of Mississippi State and outfielder Michael Guerrero in the 21st round out of the University of Mississippi.

Guerrero and Moore were last teammates in 2007 when they played for MCC and head coach Chris Rose. The two former Eagles are now teammates again with the Class-A Vermont Lake Monsters as part of the Nationals farm system.

While at MCC both were named NJCAA All Americans with Moore being named the 2007 NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year. His sophomore season, Moore batted .472 with 19 homeruns, 56 RBI and a .851 slugging percentage, he also led the team in games played, at bats, hits, homeruns, RBI, batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage. Guerrero batted .375 with 13 homeruns and 45 RBI.

Following their sophomore seasons for MCC, the two were picked up by Southeastern Conference baseball powers, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Moore became the starting first baseman for the Bulldogs while Guerrero became a long ball hitting machine for the Rebels.

Guerrero came alive during the 2008 postseason and improved his pro stock. After missing 15 games during SEC play with a stress fracture in his foot, Guerrero returned in the final weeks of the regular season, and left for the SEC Tournament with only four home runs. The Nesbit, Miss., native then ended the season as one of the hottest players as he belted out seven home runs in the final nine games of the season and earned All-Tournament team honors at the SEC Tournament where he hit five home runs in five games, including a two-run walk-off against Kentucky to propel the Rebels into the semi-finals.

Moore displayed strong defense and a constant hitting threat at the plate for Coach Ron Polk’s last season at MSU. He was one of two 56-game starters for the Bulldogs in 2008 and he hit .299 at the plate. The Brandon, Miss., native also led State with 14 homeruns and 46 RBI.

Now, together again in Burlington, Vermont, the two former MCC Eagles look to make an impact in professional baseball like so many former Eagles have, including this years MLB All Star starting pitcher, Cliff Lee, of the Cleveland Indians.