Brennan Malone

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2019
R: 1-2-0, 5.14 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A-: 0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Malone had a brief debut, throwing nine innings in rookie ball and another one in the Northwest League.  BA rated him ninth in a very strong Arizona system.

2020
DNP

2021
R:  0-0-0, 5.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 12.2 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.46 WHIP, 3.2 IP, 12.3 BB/9, 4.9 K/9

Malone took a big step backward in 2021.  He started the season in extended spring training, then went to Bradenton in mid-May.  He pitched in three games there, getting poor results and showing stuff that wasn’t nearly as advertised, including velocity that topped out in the low-90s.  The Pirates sent him back to extended and he didn’t emerge until early August, in the FCL.  It was never clear what the exact issues were, but injuries were at least a part of the problem.  His first game in the FCL went badly, but he pitched increasingly well after that.  According to some reports, his velocity bounced back.

2022
R:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 12.0 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2.50 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 13.5 K/9

Malone reportedly was doing well in training camp before the 2022 season, but a minor injury stopped him from opening with Bradenton.  He surfaced in June, pitching once in the FCL and twice for Bradenton.  The first two outings went OK and his stuff was much closer to what the Pirates supposedly were acquiring when they traded for him.  In his third game he failed to retire a batter, then he went back on the injured list.  He eventually had labrum surgery.

Malone’s Pirate tenure has been undermined by health issues.  Hopefully, the labrum surgery will turn out well and he’ll finally get a chance to show what he can do.  It won’t be right away, though, as he opened the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list.