Army’s Moore, McKague selected in MLB Draft

Army shortstop Clint Moore was drafted on Wednesday by the San Diego Padres at No. 953 overall, hours before teammate Kevin McKague went in the 50th round to the Braves.

Moore, a 5-foot-11 infielder who graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant last month, entered the season ranked among the top seniors in the nation by Baseball America after getting invited to the Cape Cod League last summer. He was the 22nd pick of the 31st round. He and McKague become the seventh and eighth Army players in the last five years selected.

Moore, a five-time All-American at West Point, hit .262 and led West Point with 11 homers and 48 RBIs this season, adding four steals and a .536 slugging percentage. He ranked second on the team with 35 runs and 11 doubles.

He graduated as Army’s all-time leader in home runs (35), doubles (51), RBI (184), runs scored (174), total bases (413), slugging percentage (.589) and multiple-RBI games (54), while his 233 career base hits rank second all-time at the Academy.

San Diego has long been known for it’s support of the military, often donning camo-patterned uniforms. Whether Moore opts to sign and see if he can make it through the Minors isn’t even the main roadblock, considering he will have to serve five years in the Army following a three-month summer leave.

McKague, impressive both at the plate as an infielder and as the Black Knights’ closer, appeared in 12 games this season before going down with an injury. He was the 24th pick of the 50th round (1525 overall).

A three-time All-Patriot League selection, McKague ranks second on Army’s all-time saves list (22) and set the single-season record with 13 saves in 2010. He also ranks among Army’s all-time career leaders in home runs (19), doubles (39), RBIs (138) and hits (208).

There are a handful of service academy grads who have played in the Minors in recent years, including Nick Hill, a Seattle prospect out of USMA who made it to Double-A last season but has yet to play this year.

Moore, if he signs quickly, could play this season in the Minors for the Padres, probably with Class A Short-Season Eugene in the Northwest League, or perhaps even Class A Fort Wayne. McKague could go to Rookie-level Danville or Class A Rome in the Braves’ system.