Peter Moylan

Peter Moylan
Moylan with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves – No. 30
Relief pitcher
Born: (1978-12-02) 2 December 1978
Lesmurdie, Western Australia, Australia
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
12 April, 2006, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 28 July 2018)
Win–loss record 24–10
Earned run average 3.10
Strikeouts 324
Teams

Peter Michael Moylan (born 2 December 1978) is an Australian professional baseball relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals.

He features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball and throws sidearm.

Professional career

Early career

Moylan began his professional career in the Minnesota Twins system. He was released in 1998 and returned to Australia, taking a job as a pharmaceutical salesman.[1] Moylan eventually improved his pitching and began working on a comeback.

Australian National Team

Moylan broke out while playing for the Australian team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He was selected for that tournament following his strong showing in the 2006 Claxton Shield. His 96 mph fastball enabled him to strike out established major-leaguers Bobby Abreu, Marco Scutaro, Ramón Hernández and Magglio Ordóñez. Based on his performance in this tournament, Moylan was invited to participate in spring training prior to the 2006 season with the Atlanta Braves.

Atlanta Braves

Moylan with the Braves in 2007

Moylan was signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2006 and assigned to their Triple-A Richmond club. On 11 April 2006, Moylan was called up to the Braves to replace Joey Devine in the bullpen and he made his MLB debut the following day, pitching one scoreless inning against the Philadelphia Phillies; however he was later sent back to the Richmond club. He pitched in 15 total games during three separate call-ups in 2006, with a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings.

At the end of spring training in 2007, Moylan was again assigned to Richmond, but he was quickly called up on 14 April due to the injury of pitcher Chad Paronto. Moylan sealed a permanent spot on the roster as he proved invaluable to the Braves bullpen in 2007. Moylan earned his first major league win against the Florida Marlins in Miami on 24 April 2007. He earned his first major league save three days later against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. He finished the season 5–3 with a 1.80 ERA. He led the majors in intentional walks allowed, with 12.[2]

In April 2008, The Braves placed Moylan on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow. Medical examination showed the ulna collateral ligament in Moylan's right elbow was compromised by a bone spur. On 5 May, Moylan was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, and missed the remainder of the 2008 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Moylan exceeded rehabilitation expectations and was declared fit to pitch during the Braves' 2009 Spring Training camp in Orlando, Florida. Moylan worked with former Braves closer Gene Garber to work on his side-arm/submarine delivery.[3] He used the spring work to continue to gain arm strength, and began the season on the Braves active roster. After a few shaky appearances in April, Moylan began to find more consistency during May, settling into his role as the team's primary 7th inning specialist. Between the 80 appearances he made in 2007 and the 87 appearances in 2009, he became the first Braves pitcher to have two seasons with 80 or more games pitched. In addition he did not allow a home run in 2009, setting a Major League Baseball record for the most consecutive appearances to start a season without giving up a home run, eclipsing the record of 73 set by Brian Shouse with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007.[4]

Moylan appeared in 85 games for the Braves in 2010, finishing with a 6–2 record and a 2.97 ERA. In 2011, Moylan appeared in seven games before being placed on the disabled list in mid-April. He underwent successful back surgery on 17 May 2011, and was expected to miss at least two months.[5] Moylan returned to the Braves on 3 September 2011, but after six appearances, he was diagnosed with torn rotator cuff and labrum in his pitching shoulder. Although he was initially expected to miss most or possibly all of 2012,[6] it was later estimated that he would need six-month recovery period, allowing him to be ready for spring training in 2012.[7]

While with the Braves, Moylan gained a reputation as a fan favorite through his embrace of Twitter and his sense of humor, even posting a link to a photo of himself in a dress stating he was wearing it to the ESPYs.[1]

On 17 January 2012, the Braves re-signed Moylan to a minor-league deal worth approximately $1 million.[8] He only appeared in eight games with the Braves in 2012.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On 16 January 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Moylan to a minor-league deal and he was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes.[9] He was recalled to the Dodgers on 31 May. He appeared in 10 games with the Dodgers and was then optioned back to AAA on 29 June. In 38 games with the Isotopes, he was 4–1 with a 2.74 ERA. He returned to the Dodgers when rosters expanded on 1 September, where he appeared in four more games. Overall, he was 1–0 with a 6.46 ERA in 14 games for the Dodgers. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on 22 October 2013.[10] He elected free agency on 29 October 2013.

Houston Astros

On 4 December 2013 Moylan signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.[11] He was released on 26 March 2014.[12]

Return to Atlanta Braves

On 5 March 2015 Moylan signed a 2-year minor league deal with the Braves that included a spring training invite for 2016.[13] The deal also made Moylan a player/coach in the Braves minor leagues in 2015 as he rehabbed from his second Tommy John surgery.[14][15] On 16 August 2015, Moylan's contract was selected by the Braves after posting a 3.14 ERA and 6 saves in 27 games in AAA Gwinnett. On the same day, Moylan made his first major league appearance since 2013.[16]

Kansas City Royals

On 23 January 2016, the Kansas City Royals signed Moylan to a minor-league deal.[17] Before the season, he represented Australia national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic – Qualification[18]

He was released by the Royals on 28 March,[19] and re-signed two days later.[20]

On 17 February 2017, the Kansas City Royals re-signed Moylan to a minor-league deal.[21]

He joined the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League as a pitching coach for the winter season after the 2017 season.[22]

Third stint with Braves

Moylan re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year contract on February 19, 2018.[23][24]

References

  1. 1 2 Twitterview with Peter Moylan, by Steve Berthiaume, 10 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "2007 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  3. ↑ What ever happened to Gene Garber?
  4. ↑ Bowman, Mark (27 February 2010). "Moylan appreciates his improbable path". MLB.com. Retrieved 29 May 2010. Righty motivated to prove that he has ability to be consistent
  5. ↑ "McCann homers twice, leads Braves past Astros 3–1". USA Today. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  6. ↑ David O'Brien (23 September 2011). "Braves pitcher Moylan has torn rotator cuff". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  7. ↑ Carroll Rogers (27 September 2011). "Moylan set for surgery Monday". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  8. ↑ Bowman, Mark (17 January 2012). "Braves ink Moylan to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Plunkett, Bill (16 January 2013). "Dodgers roll dice with Moylan". Orange County Register. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Sanchez, Jesse (22 October 2013). "Dodgers finalize deal with Cuban infielder Guerrero". mlb.com.
  11. ↑ Short, D.J. (23 November 2013). "Astros sign Peter Moylan to minor league contract". NBC Sports. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Eddy, Matt (14 March 2015). "Minor League Transactions: March 6–12". Baseball America. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Bowman, Mark (6 March 2015). "Braves give Moylan a shot with Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Bowman, Mark (11 March 2015). "Moylan to be player-coach for Braves' Rookie affiliate". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. ↑ O'Brien, David (11 March 2015). "Moylan back with Braves on 2-year minor league deal as player/coach". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  16. ↑ Sachs, Aimee (16 August 2015). "Braves purchase contract of RHP Moylan". MLB.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Dodd, Rustin (23 January 2016). "Royals sign veteran right-hander Peter Moylan to minor-league contract". KansasCityStar. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Team Australia's Roster Announced for Sydney Qualifier". Baseball Australia. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  19. ↑ Todd, Jeff (28 March 2016). "Royals Release Brian Duensing, Peter Moylan, Clint Barmes". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  20. ↑ Royals' Peter Moylan: Signs minor league deal Accessed 31 March 2016.
  21. ↑ Dodd, Rustin (17 February 2017). "Reliever Peter Moylan returns to Royals on a minor-league contract". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "Veteran Big Leaguer on his way to the Aces". September 6, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Veteran reliever Peter Moylan agrees to deal to return to the Braves". ESPN.com. February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  24. ↑ Bowman, Mark (February 19, 2018). "Resilient Moylan ecstatic to rejoin Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
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