Brian Moran (baseball)

Brian William Moran (born September 30, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Moran played college baseball at the University of North Carolina. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2019 with the Miami Marlins (for whom he's played in two separate stints) and has also played for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Brian Moran
Free Agent
Pitcher
Born: (1988-09-30) September 30, 1988
Port Chester, New York
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 5, 2019, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average6.55
Strikeouts17
Teams

Amateur career

Moran attended Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, where he played on the school's baseball team.[1] Moran pitched and played first base.[1] During his junior year, Moran was named all-county honorable mention.[1] In his junior season, he was named the team's most valuable player and was the county player of the year.[1] During the summers at Iona Prep, Moran played baseball with the ProSwing Pride.[1]

In 2007, Moran began attending the University of North Carolina and played on the school's baseball team as a pitcher.[2] In his first year at North Carolina, Moran compiled a 3.37 earned run average (ERA), and seven strikeouts in 13 games, all in relief. During his second season, Moran compiled a 1–2 record with a 2.76 ERA, two saves, and 72 strikeouts in 40 games, all in relief.[2] In 2009, Moran went 7–1 with a 2.31 ERA, four saves, and 90 strikeouts in 36 games.[2] He was a third-team All-American selection after the season.[2] Moran summed up his time at North Carolina by saying, "It was a dream come true – I can still not believe it that I will not be going back. It was an unbelievable three years. It was everything I could have hoped it could be. I made a lot of good friends and the coaches were awesome. It was an unbelievable experience."[3]

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Moran was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He said this about being drafted by Seattle: "I was actually at practice and a lot of the guys shouted down to the bullpen to let me know. Then all the sudden my phone started to get a lot of calls from people saying congratulations. It was pretty cool."[3] He was the first left-handed pitcher taken in the 2009 draft by the Mariners.[5][6] Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager, Moran's teammates at North Carolina, were also drafted by the Mariners in 2009.[7]

After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2009, Moran officially signed on June 26, 2009, receiving a US$140,000 signing bonus.[2] He was signed by scout Rob Mammau.[3] Moran made his professional debut in their minor league organization that season with the rookie-level Pulaski Mariners.[3] He went 1–0 with a 3.72 ERA, two saves, and 14 strikeouts in six games, all in relief with Pulaski. Moran was then promoted to the Class-A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League. With the LumberKings, he went 0–3 with a 2.89 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 12 games. Between the two clubs in 2009, Moran compiled a 1–3 record with a 3.18 ERA, two saves, and 31 strikeouts in 28​1⁄3 innings pitched.

Moran started the 2010 season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings.[8] Moran was used as a setup pitcher during his time at the Class-A level.[9] He was a league all-star that season.[10][11] Before the all-star break, Moran led Midwest League pitchers in bases on balls per nine innings pitched (0.93).[11] He praised the development of his split-finger fastball as reason for his success in 2010.[9] It was noted that he was "great friends" with his former University of North Carolina teammate and then-LumberKings teammate Kyle Seager.[9] With the LumberKings that season, Moran went 4–1 with a 1.34 ERA, three saves, and 48 strikeouts in 22 games, all in relief. He was then promoted the Class-A Advanced level to play with the High Desert Mavericks of the California League. With High Desert, Moran went 2–0 with a 1.42 ERA, one save, and 29 strikeouts in 17 games, all in relief. Finally that season, Moran played with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League, compiling a 13.50 ERA in two games. Between the three clubs, Moran went 6–1 with a 1.73 ERA, four saves, and 78 strikeouts in 67​2⁄3 innings pitched.

Kyle Seager, Moran's teammate with the Clinton LumberKings, described his pitching delivery as a "shot put" release.[9] Moran has stated that he developed his split-finger fast ball out of college, and that it has been effective in professional baseball.[9]

He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays on December 12, 2013 in the 2013 Rule 5 draft and then traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[12] On April 8, it was announced that Moran would undergo Tommy John surgery and would miss the entire 2014 season,[13] meaning that Rule 5 restrictions will apply to him in 2015. The Angels returned him to the Mariners on October 30, 2014. He was selected in the Rule 5 draft in 2015 by the Cleveland Indians but again returned to the Mariners.

Bridgeport Bluefish

On April 7, 2016, Moran signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[14]

Atlanta Braves

On August 10, 2016, the Atlanta Braves signed Moran to a minor league contract.[15]

Baltimore Orioles

At the 2016 Winter Meetings, the Baltimore Orioles selected Moran from the Braves in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[16]

Second stint with Bridgeport

On April 11, 2017, Moran signed again with the Bridgeport Bluefish.[17]

Los Angeles Dodgers

He ended the season with the Tulsa Drillers in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization On November 1, 2017, Moran was drafted by the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Bridgeport Bluefish dispersal draft. On July 14, 2018, Moran was released by the Dodgers.

Colorado Rockies

On July 15, 2018, Moran signed a minor league with the Colorado Rockies. He became a free agent after the season ended.[18]

Miami Marlins

On November 12, 2018, Moran signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins with an invite to spring training. He was assigned to Triple-A New Orleans to start the 2019 season. On September 3, the Marlins selected Moran's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[19] Moran made his major league debut on September 5 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching one scoreless inning in relief while striking out one batter and earning the win.[20] The strikeout was of his brother Colin.[21] The Moran brother match up was the first time since 1900, that a brother faced off against his sibling in his major league debut.[22] Moran was designated for assignment on January 15, 2020, and released on January 17.

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 7, 2020, Moran signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his Blue Jays debut on July 25, recording two outs.[23]

Second stint with Marlins

On August 2, 2020, Moran was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.

On October 28, 2020, after being activated from the 60-day injured list, Moran was designated for assignment—which he rejected—and became a free agent.[24]

Personal life

Moran's brother, Colin Moran, is a professional baseball third baseman. His uncles, Rick and B. J. Surhoff, played in Major League Baseball.[25]

See also

References
  1. "Player Bio: Brian Moran". University of North Carolina Baseball. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  2. "Brian Moran — The Baseball Cube". TheBaseballCube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  3. Clements, Matt (July 2, 2009). "Moran Arrives in Pulaski". InsideCarolina.com. Scout.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  4. "2009 Seattle Mariners Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  5. "Mariners complete First-Year Player Draft". MLB.com. June 11, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  6. "Mariners make 27 selections on Day 2 of Draft". MLB.com. June 10, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  7. Mitchell, Bill (October 13, 2009). "Top picks Strasburg, Ackley will play in Arizona Fall League". SI.com. Time Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  8. "LumberKings Announce 2010 Opening Day Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. OurSports Central. April 5, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  9. "Today's Interview: Brian Moran". MLB.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  10. "2010 Seattle Mariners minor league review". MLB.com. September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  11. Lezotte06, Dave (June 8, 2010). "Four LumberKings Named to All-Star Game". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  12. Adams, Steve (December 12, 2013). "Angels Acquire Brian Moran". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  13. Todd, Jeff (April 8, 2014). "Angels Rule 5 Pick Brian Moran To Undergo Tommy John". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  14. "David Carpenter lands with Bridgeport Bluefish". FanSided. April 30, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  15. "Atlanta Braves Keep Tweaking, Add LHRP Brian Moran". FanSided. August 10, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  16. "2016 Rule 5 Draft results". MLB.com. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  17. "Pitcher Brian Moran's Contract Purchased by Dodgers". atlanticleague.com. July 18, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  18. Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  19. RotoWire Staff (September 3, 2019). "Marlins' Brian Moran: Receives September callup". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  20. Ted Holmlund (September 5, 2019). "Brian Moran strikes out younger brother in his big-league debut". New York Post. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  21. The AP (September 5, 2019). "Got you, bro: Brian Moran K's brother Colin in MLB debut". USA Today. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  22. Dayn Perry (September 5, 2019). "Marlins pitcher Brian Moran faces brother Colin in MLB debut vs. Pirates". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  23. Sussman, Ely (2020-07-27). "Our Noticias: From "bottom feeders" to NL East leaders; COVID-19 losses". Fish Stripes. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  24. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/marlins-outright-3-pitchers.html
  25. Manuel, John (July 5, 2011). "College: Awards: Freshman Of The Year: North Carolina's Colin Moran Earns Freshman Of The Year Honors". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
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