The St. Louis Cardinals continued to bolster their pitching depth on the later stages of the 2026 MLB Draft, selecting right-handed pitcher Dallis Moran from Stetson University with the 474th overall pick in the 16th round.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Moran, a native of St. Amant, Louisiana, brings an impressive strikeout pedigree and a multi-pitch arsenal that could help him carve out a professional role, likely as a reliever, in the Cardinals’ system. Born on November 1, 2004, the right-hander has taken a winding path through the college ranks, but he showed significant promise in his lone season with the Hatters.
In 2026 at Stetson, Moran appeared in 20 games with one start, posting a 5.46 ERA over 28 innings while striking out 43 batters — good for a sparkling 13.8 K/9 rate. He recorded three saves and limited hitters to a .275 batting average, flashing the swing-and-miss stuff that caught the Cardinals’ eye.
His performance in the MLB Draft League this summer with the Williamsport Crosscutters further enhanced his stock. In 10 relief appearances, Moran notched four saves with a 2.08 ERA, striking out 18 batters in 13 innings while posting a 0.85 WHIP.
Moran’s game centers on high-velocity strikeouts and a diverse repertoire. Pitch data from his 2026 season highlights a fastball that sits 92-93 mph, touching 95, with solid ride (18 inches of induced vertical break) and vertical release characteristics. His slider, in the low-to-mid 80s, generates about seven inches of glove-side movement with a sweepier action rather than pure gyro spin. He complements those with a mid-70s curveball featuring significant drop (around 19 inches) and a low-to-mid-80s changeup with some vertical movement.
The combination has produced serious swing-and-miss ability — Moran posted a 32.3% strikeout rate in his Stetson campaign. While his command remains fringy at this stage, the depth of his arsenal gives him the tools to develop into a reliable bullpen piece. Scouts like the athleticism and the projectable frame that still has room to add strength.
Moran’s journey began at St. Amant High School, where he was a standout three-year varsity player and two-year team captain. He earned All-District honors three times, was a two-time All-State selection, and helped lead his team to a district title and state runner-up finish. He was also selected for the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Underclass All-State Games in 2022.
After starting his college career at Nicholls State University as a freshman in 2024 (where he made 16 appearances with a 7.71 ERA in 16.1 innings), he transferred to Chipola College in Florida for the 2025 season. There, he made 16 appearances (three starts) and struck out 53 batters in 42.2 innings. He then landed at Stetson for his junior year, where he truly broke out as a high-leverage option.
Moran had committed to Kansas State University prior to the draft, but the Cardinals’ selection means he’ll forgo that opportunity to turn pro.
The full name of the newest Cardinal is Dallis Joseph Moran. He is the son of Kayle and Rusty Moran and has one sister, Cheyenne. He majored in Health Science at Stetson.
Selecting Moran fits the Cardinals’ recent emphasis on developing pitching talent, particularly from the college ranks. This marks the second consecutive year the organization has drafted a Stetson pitcher, following Ty Van Dyke in 2025. With a deep farm system already rich in arms, adding a high-K reliever like Moran provides another intriguing piece with upside.
As Moran begins his professional journey in the Cardinals’ organization, the focus will be on refining his command and leveraging that potent fastball-slider-changeup mix in shorter stints. For a player who has already shown the ability to miss bats at multiple levels, the path to the majors could be an exciting one for Cardinals fans to follow.
Welcome to the Redbird family, Dallis.
