The New York Yankees made a roster move by claiming right-hander McKinley Moore off waivers from the Phillies. To make room for Moore, the Yankees placed right-hander Lou Trivino on the 60-day injured list. Moore, 25, was designated for assignment by the Phillies after the recent signing of Spencer Turnbull.
What happened?
Originally drafted by the White Sox, Moore joined the Phillies in the 2022 Adam Haseley trade. Despite showcasing a powerful pitching arsenal, he has struggled with command. In his major league debut last year, Moore faced challenges, issuing five walks and allowing seven earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings, resulting in an elevated career earned run average of 18.90.
However, this limited sample size doesn’t overshadow his potential, as he consistently threw fastballs at an impressive average of 97.2 miles per hour. In his minor league career spanning the past three years, Moore accumulated 120 2/3 innings with a 3.88 ERA. While he walked 13.1% of opponents, he also struck out an impressive 32.9% of them.
Known for favoring ground ball pitchers, the Yankees see potential in Moore, who has a track record of keeping approximately half of the balls in play grounded. While acknowledging he’s a work in progress, the Yankees see value in his remaining option years and minimal service time. Moore is expected to bolster the bullpen depth, providing a call-up option from the minors when needed, with the team aiming to refine his command.
This move suggests the Yankees are investing in the potential of McKinley Moore and are willing to work on developing his skills to contribute to their pitching staff.
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