Position: RHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/08/2000
High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
Drafted: Supp. 1st Round, 33rd Overall, 2019 (Diamondbacks)
How Acquired: Trade (from Diamondbacks for Starling Marte)
Bonus: $2,202,200
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2023
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
Malone was considered to have one of the highest ceilings among the pitchers in the 2019 draft. Some evaluators expected him to go in the middle of the first round, but he lasted until the supplemental first round. His fastball at draft time sat in the low-90s and reached 96-97. He also threw a slider, curve and change. Until his senior year, scouts found his breaking pitches disappointing, but according to Baseball America he made progress with them. His change also had potential. Malone had an easy arm motion but his command so far has been inconsistent. The Pirates acquired him and Liover Peguero for Starling Marte. Since the trade, Malone has rarely been able to pitch.
2019-21
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.
After missing the pandemic season, 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.
2022-24
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. He missed the rest of 2022, then spent all of 2023 on the injured list.
Malone finally returned to the FCL for a rehab assignment in late May 2024. He made seven starts and three relief appearances, but pitched only in short stints, never more than an inning. He wasn’t effective, walking nine and striking out only four in 8.2 IP.
In six years since being drafted, Malone has thrown 35.2 innings. He’ll be eligible for minor league free agency after the 2025 season.
Stats
Transactions
June 3, 2019: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the supplemental 1st round, 33rd overall pick; signed on June 11.
January 27, 2020: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks with Liover Peguero and $250,000 in international slot space to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Starling Marte and $1,500,000 cash.