Gabriel Moreno Makes History: First Venezuelan Catcher to Win MLB Batting Title

Moreno edges Arráez for National League batting crown

The race for the batting title remained undecided until the final day of the regular season. Neither player appeared in the final game of the season; Moreno did not see action in the Diamondbacks’ matchup against the San Diego Padres, and Arráez remained sidelined due to a sprain suffered earlier in the week.

Moreno’s offensive campaign included 147 hits, 16 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 72 runs scored across 130 games.

¡¡¡HISTORIA!!! ¡¡¡EL CAMPEÓN BATE SE QUEDA EN VENEZUELA!!! ¡¡¡GABRIEL MORENO SE QUEDA CON EL TÍTULO DE BATEO DE LA LIGA NACIONAL!!! ¡¡¡PRIMER CATCHER VENEZOLANO EN CONSEGUIRLO Y EL PRIMERO DESDE BUSTER POSEY EN 2012!!! #Dbacks | #ElExtrabase⚾️🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/cZBfhs5EbJ

A rare achievement for Major League catchers

Moreno becomes only the fifth catcher in Major League Baseball history to win a batting title. He joins a selective group that includes Bubbles Hargrave (1926), Ernie Lombardi (1938 and 1942), Joe Mauer (2006, 2008, and 2009), and Buster Posey (2012). Moreno is the first catcher to achieve this feat since Posey’s 2012 season.

Beyond the batting average, Moreno recorded an adjusted OPS (OPS+) of +142. El Extrabase notes that he is one of only seven catchers over the last 26 years to post a season with an OPS+ of at least +142, a group that includes Mauer, Posey, and Cal Raleigh during his 2025 season.

Venezuelan hitting legacy and franchise records

The title marks the 14th time a Venezuelan player has led a league in batting. Moreno is the first Latino catcher to win a batting title and the first Venezuelan catcher to do so. He joins other Venezuelan batting champions such as Miguel Cabrera (4 titles), Luis Arráez (3 titles), José Altuve (3 titles), Andrés Galarraga, Magglio Ordóñez, and Carlos González.

For the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Moreno is the first player in franchise history to win a batting title.