Gabriel Moreno wins first batting title in Diamondbacks history

Gabriel Moreno has become the first Arizona Diamondbacks player to win a batting title, finishing the regular season with a .311 average. The catcher took the National League crown ahead of Philadelphia's Luis Arraez, according to reporting from the Associated Press and Arizona Sports, as the season concluded on Sunday.

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Neither contender played in the final game of the regular season. Moreno was removed from Arizona's starting lineup because of a tender hamstring, while Arraez had missed Philadelphia's final series after spraining an ankle on Thursday. Arraez finished at .310, leaving Moreno ahead by one point of batting average.

The achievement places Moreno in a small historical group. Citing the Elias Sports Bureau, AP reported that he became the fifth player with at least 50 starts at catcher to win a batting championship. The others are Bubbles Hargrave, Ernie Lombardi, Joe Mauer and Buster Posey, whose title came in 2012.

Moreno's success extended beyond his batting average. Arizona Sports reported that he finished with a .388 on-base percentage and an .874 OPS, ranking fourth and fifth respectively in the National League. He also produced 16 home runs, a career high, and 33 doubles during the season.

His strong finish followed a sustained run of production from the middle of May. According to Arizona Sports, Moreno posted a .921 OPS from 13 May onward, the sixth-highest mark in the majors over that span. He credited his preparation and the hitting coaches' help with understanding pitch sequences for his improvement.

The personal milestone arrived alongside disappointment for Arizona, which missed the postseason. Arizona Sports reported that Moreno welcomed becoming the franchise's first batting champion but was frustrated that he could not play in the finale or help secure a playoff place. He said the team needed to continue improving next year.

Houston's Yordan Alvarez also claimed his first batting title, leading the American League and the majors at .316, AP reported. Only seven qualifying players finished at .300 or above, matching the totals in 2024 and 2025. Both leagues therefore ended the regular season with first-time batting champions.