Jovani Moran

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #23 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Moran signed for $275,000 as one of the top pitching prospects in Puerto Rico in 2015 and quickly transitioned to a full-time reliever role after joining the organization. After a strong 2019 season, Moran excelled at Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul in 2021, posting the best overall full-season strikeout rate of his career and earning a big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Moran relies mostly on a two-pitch mix led by a 92-93 mph fastball that gets up to the 97-98 mph range at peak and an out pitch changeup in the 80-81 mph range. His fastball is ordinary—especially by reliever standards—and got hit hard in his brief big league sample. The pitch was also his least effective offering in the minors. His changeup is a real weapon. It has received double-plus grades and generated a 51% whiff rate in the majors. He also throws a low-80s, high-spin slider but largely scrapped the pitch in his major league stint. Control has always been a question mark and weak link for Moran, and that was still the case in 2021, with a walk rate of 4.3 per nine innings in the minors.
  
  The Future: Moran has a chance to provide low-leverage innings out of the bullpen again in 2022, but his upside could be capped without improving his fastball velocity, shape or command.
  
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #29 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Moran was one of the top pitching prospects out of Puerto Rico in 2015 and signed with the Twins for $275,000 as their seventh-round pick. He worked as a starter in his pro debut but moved quickly to the bullpen and progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019. The Twins brought Moran to instructional league in 2020 after the canceled minor league season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Moran racks up strikeouts with his two-pitch combination, but instead of the slider he threw as an amateur, he now relies on a diving changeup to miss bats. His 18.4% swinging-strike ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2019 among pitchers with at least 30 innings. That's because of his changeup, which some scouts have labeled a plus-plus offering. Moran has shown reverse platoon splits throughout his career because his changeup is so effective versus righthanded hitters. His fastball is more of a solid-average pitch, so time will tell how his changeup will fare when advanced hitters don't need to gear up for heat. Moran also has below-average control he needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Moran's changeup gives him a real weapon in relief. He should open in Triple-A in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #300 prospect in 2015 draft
  It is a good year for pitching in Puerto Rico, with Alexis Omar Diaz and Moran leading the way. Listed at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, Moran has a lanky, projectable frame. He throws his fastball from a high three-quarters angle at 88-90 mph and locates it well thanks to his smooth, easy delivery. His breaking ball is a bit slurvy now, but as he gets stronger he should be able to throw it with true slider shape. Moran is a South Florida recruit, with a backup commitment to Broward (Fla.) CC.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Moran signed for $275,000 as one of the top pitching prospects in Puerto Rico in 2015 and quickly transitioned to a full-time reliever role after joining the organization. After a strong 2019 season, Moran excelled at Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul in 2021, posting the best overall full-season strikeout rate of his career and earning a big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Moran relies mostly on a two-pitch mix led by a 92-93 mph fastball that gets up to the 97-98 mph range at peak and an out pitch changeup in the 80-81 mph range. His fastball is ordinary—especially by reliever standards—and got hit hard in his brief big league sample. The pitch was also his least effective offering in the minors. His changeup is a real weapon. It has received double-plus grades and generated a 51% whiff rate in the majors. He also throws a low-80s, high-spin slider but largely scrapped the pitch in his major league stint. Control has always been a question mark and weak link for Moran, and that was still the case in 2021, with a walk rate of 4.3 per nine innings in the minors.
  
  The Future: Moran has a chance to provide low-leverage innings out of the bullpen again in 2022, but his upside could be capped without improving his fastball velocity, shape or command.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Moran signed for $275,000 as one of the top pitching prospects in Puerto Rico in 2015 and quickly transitioned to a full-time reliever role after joining the organization. After a strong 2019 season, Moran excelled at Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul in 2021, posting the best overall full-season strikeout rate of his career and earning a big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Moran relies mostly on a two-pitch mix led by a 92-93 mph fastball that gets up to the 97-98 mph range at peak and an out pitch changeup in the 80-81 mph range. His fastball is ordinary—especially by reliever standards—and got hit hard in his brief big league sample. The pitch was also his least effective offering in the minors. His changeup is a real weapon. It has received double-plus grades and generated a 51% whiff rate in the majors. He also throws a low-80s, high-spin slider but largely scrapped the pitch in his major league stint. Control has always been a question mark and weak link for Moran, and that was still the case in 2021, with a walk rate of 4.3 per nine innings in the minors.
  
  The Future: Moran has a chance to provide low-leverage innings out of the bullpen again in 2022, but his upside could be capped without improving his fastball velocity, shape or command.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Moran was one of the top pitching prospects out of Puerto Rico in 2015 and signed with the Twins for $275,000 as their seventh-round pick. He worked as a starter in his pro debut but moved quickly to the bullpen and progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019. The Twins brought Moran to instructional league in 2020 after the canceled minor league season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Moran racks up strikeouts with his two-pitch combination, but instead of the slider he threw as an amateur, he now relies on a diving changeup to miss bats. His 18.4% swinging-strike ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2019 among pitchers with at least 30 innings. That's because of his changeup, which some scouts have labeled a plus-plus offering. Moran has shown reverse platoon splits throughout his career because his changeup is so effective versus righthanded hitters. His fastball is more of a solid-average pitch, so time will tell how his changeup will fare when advanced hitters don't need to gear up for heat. Moran also has below-average control he needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Moran's changeup gives him a real weapon in relief. He should open in Triple-A in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Moran was one of the top pitching prospects out of Puerto Rico in 2015 and signed with the Twins for $275,000 as their seventh-round pick. He worked as a starter in his pro debut but moved quickly to the bullpen and progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019. The Twins brought Moran to instructional league in 2020 after the canceled minor league season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Moran racks up strikeouts with his two-pitch combination, but instead of the slider he threw as an amateur, he now relies on a diving changeup to miss bats. His 18.4% swinging-strike ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2019 among pitchers with at least 30 innings. That's because of his changeup, which some scouts have labeled a plus-plus offering. Moran has shown reverse platoon splits throughout his career because his changeup is so effective versus righthanded hitters. His fastball is more of a solid-average pitch, so time will tell how his changeup will fare when advanced hitters don't need to gear up for heat. Moran also has below-average control he needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Moran's changeup gives him a real weapon in relief. He should open in Triple-A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Moran was one of the top pitching prospects out of Puerto Rico in 2015 and signed with the Twins for $275,000 as their seventh-round pick. He worked as a starter in his pro debut but moved quickly to the bullpen and progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019. The Twins brought Moran to instructional league in 2020 after the canceled minor league season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Moran racks up strikeouts with his two-pitch combination, but instead of the slider he threw as an amateur, he now relies on a diving changeup to miss bats. His 18.4% swinging-strike ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2019 among pitchers with at least 30 innings. That's because of his changeup, which some scouts have labeled a plus-plus offering. Moran has shown reverse platoon splits throughout his career because his changeup is so effective versus righthanded hitters. His fastball is more of a solid-average pitch, so time will tell how his changeup will fare when advanced hitters don't need to gear up for heat. Moran also has below-average control he needs to improve.
  
  THE FUTURE: Moran's changeup gives him a real weapon in relief. He should open in Triple-A in 2021.