Moran Becomes 100th Former Blue Wahoos Player To Make MLB Debut 

Jovani Moran pitched just 34 innings for the Blue Wahoos in 2019, but his distinction now extends into a special part of franchise history.

Moran, 24, become the 100th former Blue Wahoos player to make his major league debut when he appeared in relief Sunday for the Minnesota Twins.

Moran, a 6-foot-1 lefthander, pitched two innings in the Twins’ loss against the Kansas City Royals, after being surprised with his call-up late Friday night to the Twins. He gave up two hits, two walks and had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings worked.

"I slept, I would say, like two hours," Moran said, speaking to reporters covering the Twins Saturday in Minneapolis. "Anxious and thinking lot. Imagining myself in the game, trying to do my job."

During the 20 games Moran played for the Blue Wahoos in 2019 – the team’s only season as the Twins’ Double-A affiliate – Moran was 2-2 with 4.08 earned run average in middle relief. He did not start a game.

He’s engaging personality made him a popular player when greeting fans at the ballpark and his willingness to sign autographs back when player interaction was permitted.

Moran, who grew up in Puerto Rico, was often in the Blue Wahoos Bait and Tackle team store on Wednesday autograph sessions.

He was playing this season for the St. Paul Saints, the Twins’ new Triple-A affiliate and former Independent League franchise that played in Pensacola when the Pensacola Pelicans existed.

Moran earned the promotion through a sensational season across two levels in 2021. He struck out 109 batters in 67.1 in combined stints with Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and the St. Paul Saints. He had a 3.03 ERA with the Saints.

"This is a guy you could see growing into a real role here," said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, speaking to Minneapolis media members. "But his career hasn't even started yet, so we're going to let him take the mound and get comfortable."

Moran becomes the 24th player from that 2019 Blue Wahoos team to advance into a major league debut. That team has distinction of the most players making MLB debuts in Wahoos’ 10-year history and nine full seasons of teams.

Another player from that team, righthander Randy Dobnak, went on the Twins’ injured list for the remainder of season. It was his second injury in a hard-luck year for Dobnak.