After spending the entire season with the Angels organization, primarily at AAA Salt Lake, he now sign a deal Atlanta Braves ahead of the season.
his time with the Angels wasn’t exactly memorable, to put it kindly. He made just one appearance for the team in recording one out while allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 home run, and issuing an intentional walk. His ERA with the Angels stands at a tough 54.00, and his WHIP was 12.00. However, he had a much stronger performance at AAA Salt Lake, posting a solid 4.07 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 48.2 innings, despite the challenges of pitching in the hitter-friendly environment of Salt Lake City. In 2023, he had great numbers for AAA Gwinnett, though his 2024 campaign has been more challenging, including some time spent on the Development List. Nonetheless, the Braves’ front office and coaching staff clearly recognize his value.
He is a left-handed pitcher with an unorthodox delivery, using an 8° arm angle. Most lefties with such an angle generate strong arm-side run on their four-seam, sinker, or changeup, but not Moran. His four-seam fastball actually cuts from his side-arm release, making it distinct from a traditional cutter. But that’s not his primary weapon. Instead, he relies on a massive, looping sweeper that sits in the upper 60s to low 70s, using it to induce swing-and-miss and chase pitches outside the strike zone. Interestingly, his pitch arsenal is often more effective against right-handed hitters than left-handed ones, even though his side-arm release makes it harder for left-handed batters to pick up the ball. Despite having a mid-80s four-seam fastball, he still racks up a significant number of strikeouts. Moran is truly a unique pitcher.
Brian Moran is the brother of Colin Moran, and the nephew of Rick and B.J. Surhoff. He pitched at the University of North Carolina and was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. He made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Miami Marlins, pitching a total of 10 innings across 15 games in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. After being released by the Marlins following the 2019 season, Moran was signed by the Blue Jays in 2020, DFA’d, and then re-claimed by the Marlins. His career has certainly been an interesting journey, and there’s more to come.
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