Peter Moylan
| Peter Moylan | |
|---|---|
 Moylan with the Braves in 2008 |
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| Atlanta Braves – No. 58 | |
| Relief Pitcher | |
| Born: 2 December 1978 Perth, Australia |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| 12 April, 2006 for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 season) |
|
| Win-Loss | 19-9 |
| Earned run average | 2.60 |
| Strikeouts | 205 |
| Teams | |
Peter Michael Moylan (born 2 December 1978 in Perth, Western Australia) is a relief pitcher for the in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball and throws sidearm.
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[edit] 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.
Moylan broke out while playing for the Australian team in the 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, Ramon Hernandez 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.
[edit] Atlanta Braves
Peter Moylan was signed by the Atlanta Braves and assigned to their Triple-A Richmond club. On 11 April 2006, Moylan was called up to the Atlanta Braves to replace Joey Devine in the bullpen; however he was later sent back to the Richmond club. On 4 May 2006, Moylan was called up again and Tony Peña, Jr. was sent down; however, he was sent down again.
At the end of spring training in 2007, Moylan was assigned to the Braves Triple-A affiliate. However, that assignment would prove to be short lived. On 14 April, Moylan was called up to Atlanta 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] Moylan had not made enough appearances in 2006 to lose his rookie status, so 2007 became his official rookie season; his name was lightly tossed around in some Rookie of the Year discussions, but he did not win the award.
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. 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.[3]
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 May 17, 2011, and was expected to miss at least two months.[4] Moylan returned to the Braves on September 3, 2011, but after six appearances, he was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his pitching shoulder. Although he was initially expected most or possibly all of 2012,[5] it was later estimated that he would need six-month recovery period, allowing him to be ready for spring training in 2012.[6]
Moylan has 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 January 16, 2012, the Braves re-signed Moylan to a minor-league deal worth approximately $1 million. The deal is on a prorated basis for time spent in the majors and includes an invitation to spring training.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Twitterview with Peter Moylan, by Steve Berthiaume, June 10, 2011.
- ^ "2007 Major League Baseball Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2007-standard-pitching.shtml. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (27 February 2010). "Moylan appreciates his improbable path". MLB.com. http://braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100227&content_id=8436048&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl. Retrieved 29 May 2010. "Righty motivated to prove that he has ability to be consistent"
- ^ McCann homers twice, leads Braves past Astros 3-1
- ^ Braves pitcher Moylan has torn rotator cuff
- ^ Moylan set for surgery Monday
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
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- 1978 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball players from Australia
- Atlanta Braves players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- 2006 World Baseball Classic players
- Gulf Coast Twins players
- Richmond Braves players
- Gwinnett Braves players
- People from Perth, Western Australia
- Perth Heat players
- Baseball people from Western Australia
