Matt Maloney

Note: This page is for major league pitcher Matt Maloney; for the minor league player and manager of the same name, click here

Matthew Michael Maloney

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 220 lb.
• Schools Manatee Community College, University of Mississippi
• High School Huron (OH) High School
• Debut June 6, 2009
• Final Game May 5, 2012
• Born January 16, 1984 in Sandusky, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Matt Maloney made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009.

Maloney was 8-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 4 saves for the University of Mississippi in 2005 after transferring from junior college. He struck out 111 in 104 innings, but was well back of Southeastern Conference leader Luke Hochevar. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of the 2005 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Mike Stauffer and made his pro debut that summer with the Batavia Muckdogs, going 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 8 starts.

He spent the next year with the Lakewood BlueClaws and blossomed, led the South Atlantic League with 16 wins, a 2.03 ERA, and 180 strikeouts, and was named the circuit's Pitcher of the Year. He won the pitching Triple Crown and was the frontline star on a talented staff which had the #2 ERA in the SAL (Carlos Carrasco) and #4 (Josh Outman). Maloney led the SAL in innings (168 2/3). He saved his best for the playoffs, with a 12-strikeout, 5-0 shutout of the Augusta GreenJackets in the finale game of the championship to give Lakewood its first title. Baseball America rated him the #19 prospect in the league, right ahead of Outman and well behind Carrasco. He tied Micah Owings and Zack Segovia for third in the affiliated minors in wins, one behind Chuck Lofgren and Jason Windsor. Maloney was 6th in the affiliated minors in ERA and third in strikeouts behind Yovani Gallardo and Francisco Cruceta.

Maloney began 2007 with the Reading Phillies, for whom he was 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA in 21 starts. On July 30th, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Kyle Lohse. In 7 starts between the Chattanooga Lookouts and the Louisville Bats in the Reds system, he went 4-3 with a 2.80 ERA. He made the Eastern League All-Star team as the top left-handed hurler in the circuit; Alan Horne was the top right-hander. He struck out 177 in 170 2/3 innings that year. He was third in the US-based affiliated minors in strikeouts behind only Gio Gonzalez and Will Inman and just ahead of Jake McGee and Clay Buchholz.

Maloney was unexceptional in 2008 with Louisville, going 11-5 with a 4.68 ERA. He began 2009 strong, though, going 4-3 with a 2.00 ERA in his first 10 starts with the Bats; he walked 9 and fanned 58 in 67 1/3 IP. He was third in the International League in ERA behind Tommy Hanson and Clay Buchholz and ranked 6th in strikeouts. That prompted his call-up to the majors to take the roster spot of the injured Edinson Volquez.

In his maiden start facing the Chicago Cubs on June 6, Matt's first opposing batter in the majors was Alfonso Soriano, who doubled. Maloney then hit Ryan Theriot with a pitch, but recovered to get Derrek Lee and Jake Fox, with Theriot caught stealing in the interim. Maloney allowed two runs in six innings, on solo homers by Bobby Scales and Geovany Soto, before being relieved by Danny Herrera en route to a 4-3 win, although he was not involved in the decision. He then proceeded to lose his next two starts, however. He finished the year with a record of 2-4, 4.87 in 7 starts in the National League.

Notable Achievements

• 2006 Pitcher of the Year South Atlantic League Lakewood BlueClaws

Sources

• 2008 Reds Media Guide
• 2006-2008 Baseball Almanacs

Related Sites

• Matt Maloney on mlb.com