Name: McKinley Moore
Position: RHP
Born: August 24, 1998
Country: US
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’6″ 225lbs
How Acquired: Traded to the Phillies by the White Sox for Adam Haseley on March 29, 2022
Signed: June 8, 2019
Bonus: $100,000
Options Remaining: 2
Rule 5 Eligible: 2022
MiLB Free Agency: 2025
Stats
Pitcher Statcast
*Statcast data only available for FSL (2021-2023), AAA (2023), and isolated select games and locations.
| Pitch Type | Year | Pitch Count | Average Velocity | Max Velocity | Median Spin | VBreak | HBreak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Seam Fastball | 2023 | 222 | 96.7 | 98.8 | 2155 | 14 | -7 |
| Changeup | 2023 | 33 | 89.8 | 91.4 | 1636 | 29 | -13 |
| Sweeper | 2023 | 103 | 87.0 | 89.7 | 2750 | 35 | 11 |
Pitcher Tracking
*Pitch tracking data sourced from Statcast, broadcasts, and individual reports
| Pitch Type | Year | Velocity Low | Velocity High | Velocity Max | Games Tracked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA | 2023 | 94 | 98 | 98 | 19 |
| FA | 2022 | 95 | 99 | 99 | 2 |
| CH | 2023 | 87 | 92 | 92 | 14 |
| CH | 2022 | 87 | 97 | 97 | 2 |
| SL | 2023 | 83 | 88 | 89 | 6 |
| SL | 2022 | 86 | 89 | 92 | 2 |
| SW | 2023 | 82 | 88 | 89 | 13 |
| FC | 2023 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 1 |
Prospect Rankings
2024 #29 2023 #34 2024 #29Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: Medium – Moore had a poor cameo in the majors, missed time multiple times due to injuries, and had poor control in the minors. However, he has major league stuff and is on the doorstep of the majors.
Summary: The Phillies opted to not protect Moore in the 2022 Rule 5 draft, and then he had a bit of a breakout camp. The Phillies added him to the 40 man roster early in the year, and he made 3 appearances in the majors in April. Moore is a big righty, who releases from a higher slot and only gets average extension, which doesn’t help an only ok fastball shape. However, he averages about 97 on the pitch and has gotten up to 100 in the past. He throws a high 80s sweeper that is in the same velocity band as Orion Kerkering but without the horizontal break that Kerkering does (about 5 inches less). Moore’s best pitch has been a low 90s split changeup that he was able to get above average whiff rates on in the minors. All of Moore’s pitches get a good number of swings and misses, but none are plus plus weapons to lean on. Moore will need to throw more strikes, a thing he has struggled to do throughout his career.
2024 Outlook: Moore will go to Spring Training with an outside shot to make the major league roster, but will likely head to AAA to be up and down relief depth.
Role: 6th/7th Inning Reliever
Risk: High – Moore, despite good stuff, struggled against AA batters. He will need to throw better strikes, and if he does he can be the 5th or 6th best arm in a bullpen. If he doesn’t, he might end up being an up and down reliever that you always want a bit more from before you send him back up the Northeast Extension.
Summary: The Phillies did not get a chance to really look at Moore after acquiring him, before shipping him off to Reading. The rapid change of scenery didn’t seem to do him well either, as he walked 10 in his 9.2 April innings. After that he still walked a bit too many, 16 in 40 innings, but he offset that slightly with 63 strikeouts. Backing up a bit, Moore is a prototypical Phillies draft acquisition as a big college arm who could not throw strikes in college, they just got him later in his career. Moore’s fastball sits in the upper 90s, hitting 99 in most appearances (according to a Baseball America interview with pitching coach Matt Hockenberry he has been up to 101). His primary secondary pitch is a slider that sits 86-89 and will touch the low 90s with good sweep. He also will mix in a hard changeup as well. The control is still not great, but his velocity and slider give him a chance to be a prototype modern middle reliever with two plus pitches and not enough polish to trust late in games.
2023 Outlook: Given that the Phillies have devoted a large portion of their 40 man roster to relievers who can help the team in 2023, there may not be that much room in the Lehigh Valley bullpen. Moore will be in big league camp, so they think he may be a player that can help them sooner. Given that he will be Rule 5 eligible again after this season, he could definitely pass one of the waiver or low level trade arms, and force himself into that up and down 8th RP this season.
Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: Medium – Moore had a poor cameo in the majors, missed time multiple times due to injuries, and had poor control in the minors. However, he has major league stuff and is on the doorstep of the majors.
Summary: The Phillies opted to not protect Moore in the 2022 Rule 5 draft, and then he had a bit of a breakout camp. The Phillies added him to the 40 man roster early in the year, and he made 3 appearances in the majors in April. Moore is a big righty, who releases from a higher slot and only gets average extension, which doesn’t help an only ok fastball shape. However, he averages about 97 on the pitch and has gotten up to 100 in the past. He throws a high 80s sweeper that is in the same velocity band as Orion Kerkering but without the horizontal break that Kerkering does (about 5 inches less). Moore’s best pitch has been a low 90s split changeup that he was able to get above average whiff rates on in the minors. All of Moore’s pitches get a good number of swings and misses, but none are plus plus weapons to lean on. Moore will need to throw more strikes, a thing he has struggled to do throughout his career.
2024 Outlook: Moore will go to Spring Training with an outside shot to make the major league roster, but will likely head to AAA to be up and down relief depth.
Role: 6th/7th Inning Reliever
Risk: High – Moore, despite good stuff, struggled against AA batters. He will need to throw better strikes, and if he does he can be the 5th or 6th best arm in a bullpen. If he doesn’t, he might end up being an up and down reliever that you always want a bit more from before you send him back up the Northeast Extension.
Summary: The Phillies did not get a chance to really look at Moore after acquiring him, before shipping him off to Reading. The rapid change of scenery didn’t seem to do him well either, as he walked 10 in his 9.2 April innings. After that he still walked a bit too many, 16 in 40 innings, but he offset that slightly with 63 strikeouts. Backing up a bit, Moore is a prototypical Phillies draft acquisition as a big college arm who could not throw strikes in college, they just got him later in his career. Moore’s fastball sits in the upper 90s, hitting 99 in most appearances (according to a Baseball America interview with pitching coach Matt Hockenberry he has been up to 101). His primary secondary pitch is a slider that sits 86-89 and will touch the low 90s with good sweep. He also will mix in a hard changeup as well. The control is still not great, but his velocity and slider give him a chance to be a prototype modern middle reliever with two plus pitches and not enough polish to trust late in games.
2023 Outlook: Given that the Phillies have devoted a large portion of their 40 man roster to relievers who can help the team in 2023, there may not be that much room in the Lehigh Valley bullpen. Moore will be in big league camp, so they think he may be a player that can help them sooner. Given that he will be Rule 5 eligible again after this season, he could definitely pass one of the waiver or low level trade arms, and force himself into that up and down 8th RP this season.