Most of Jeremy Moore's summer in Salt Lake City is measurable.

His .297 batting average and 15 triples, tying him for the Pacific Coast League lead, speak of the Bees outfielder's impact in his first Triple-A season. So do his two inside-the-park homers in the past three weeks.

On those plays, Moore touched 'em all.

In less-dramatic fashion, Moore may have done the same thing one morning this summer. The effects of his visit to a juvenile correctional facility are not easily judged. Yet as he walked out of Wasatch Youth Center and rode back to Spring Mobile Ballpark that day, Moore was encouraged.

"I could look at those kids' faces and tell they were really getting something out of it," he said.

There's some handwritten evidence now. Responding to Moore's appearance, residents produced essays that he read intently in the dugout after batting practice Friday, often nodding in approval.

"Pretty touching," he said afterward. "It seemed like I touched more than one of them, but if I can touch just one of them, it makes my day."

The writers followed a formula, yet delivered individual thoughts, as excerpted.

"What impressed me about his professional life is how he ain't all selfish and came to talk to us in a secure building, hoping to reach just one of us." — Angelo

Having climbed through the Los Angeles Angels' minor-league system for seven years, Moore is positioning himself for a September call-up with a strong second half of the PCL season. Playing in the major leagues would broaden his forum.

"Being in my position of power as a baseball player, you have to take advantage of it, helping people out," Moore said.

"I came from a not so appealing background and, at times, I fear my background defines me." — DeShawn

Moore, 24, grew up in the northeast Louisiana town of Vivian, about 30 miles from Shreveport. In his talk, Moore acknowledged, "I definitely got in a lot of trouble when I was younger. I'm big on second chances."

That's why he could relate to the youth offenders, housed in what Juvenile Justice Services administrators describe as a facility that's similar to an adult prison.

"Jeremy Moore had no leg up to get by in life, kind of like me, except he didn't get in trouble like his friends did."— Christian

"I didn't come up in the best place — I came up where trouble was right there," Moore said Friday. "I had my family behind just enough where I kind of went away from those things. Maybe those kids didn't have that situation."

"Dear Jeremy … I felt you were real on how you got through your problems, when you overcame them by being a better person than what you could have been by choosing the wrong friends and doing the wrong stuff." — Shad

Baseball may have saved Moore. Teammates in that sport, more than any other among his pursuits at North Caddo High School, influenced him. That's among the reasons that Moore goes home every offseason and spends time with the Rebels baseball players.

"He works wonders with my kids," said coach Gabe Lyons. "He talks to them about not only baseball, but the choices you make in life."

"My goals that I would set for myself would be make up my mind what I would like to do with my life. Stay away from negative friends. Stay away from drugs. Focus on finishing school." — Tyrell

Moore liked reading that.

"I give those kids credit," he said. "They want to better themselves, so they sat and listened to what I had to say."

"The thing he did to overcome obstacles was to say no to a best friend. I'm impressed because I can't be that strong like him." — Uriel

Recalling his youth, Moore said, "A lot of those kids are going through the same thing." Seven seasons in the minors have "not only made me a better ballplayer, it's made me a totally better person."

"He treated all of us like regular people. He didn't judge us." — Levi

His own background gave Moore some understanding, almost a bond with the residents.

He spoke easily and comfortably that day while fielding questions and was upbeat afterward. Yet judging by his expressions as he read those essays, the written words validated him even more.

The lasting impact may not be known until long after the youths are released from the facility and go about their lives.

Still, any suggestion that he inspired them clearly was meaningful to Moore. He carried the papers to his locker in the clubhouse before returning to gauging his results instantly, with a single and a triple against Omaha.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.comTwitter: @tribkurt