Don't be fooled by the menacing fu-manchu and the pitcher's glare. Hanshin Tigers left-hander Trey Moore is actually a friendly, down-to-earth family man from Texas, but don't tell opposing hitters that.
Moore, a 29-year-old pitcher in his first season in Japan who spent the previous four years in the Montreal Expos and Atlanta Braves organizations, is a key contributor to Hanshin's hot start this year. Through his last start on April 20 -- a 10-2 home win over the Yomiuri Giants -- Moore was 3-0 with a stingy 1.29 ERA.
Almost as impressive is Moore's batting average. The 1994 second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners is hitting a lofty .454 (5-for-11).
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