Brandon Moss
Encyclopedia
Brandon Douglas Moss is an American
professional baseball
outfielder
for the Oakland Athletics
of Major League Baseball
.
by the Boston Red Sox
, out of Loganville High School
in Loganville, Georgia
. He was a 18 year old infielder
and pitcher
when drafted, but transitioned into an outfield role.
Moss climbed up ladder of minor league
ball, starting with the Gulf Coast Red Sox. He then played for the Lowell Spinners
, Augusta GreenJackets
, and Sarasota Red Sox. He spent two years with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
in and and played for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
.
when Hinske was placed on the bereavement leave. In his debut, he recorded his first major league hit
against Scot Shields
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. He then scored his first run
on a wild pitch
by Shields. Later in the game, with the tying run on base, he struck out
against all-star closer
Francisco Rodriguez to end the game. He was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket on August 10 to make room for Hinske, who was returning from bereavement leave. On September 1, Moss was recalled to Boston when major league rosters
expanded to 40 players.
Moss' first major league RBI
came on September 26 against the Oakland Athletics
.
in Tokyo, Japan, Moss was a last-minute starter in right field after J.D. Drew was scratched from the line-up with lower back tightness. During this game, he hit his first major league home run
in the 9th inning off of Oakland A's closer Huston Street
to tie the game. The Red Sox would go on to win the game 6-5 in 10 innings.
After playing the first two games of the season, Moss was optioned back to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on March 26.
Moss was recalled on April 29 and was batting .286 on May 3 when he was diagnosed with appendicitis
and brought to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy.
On July 31, Moss was traded along with pitcher Craig Hansen
to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
and Jason Bay
to Boston. Moss immediately became the team's starting left fielder
, replacing the departed Bay. He has since been shifted to right field. Moss missed the final six games of the 2008 season, but is expected to have surgery in the offseason and be recovered for spring training
.
and Garret Jones he was demoted from that role. He did see time pinch hitting and some starts. He finished 2009 with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 41 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, to go along with a .236 average, .304 on base percentage, a .364 slugging percentage, in 385 at bats.
by the Pirates on March 29. He would later clear waivers and be outrighted to AAA (Indianapolis Indians
).
he was in the Philadelphia Phillies
minor league organization, and was called up to the big league club on September 16, 2011 after playing for the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs
in the International League Championship series. He became a free agent on October 18.
and the eldest of four children. He and his wife, Allison, had their first child, Jayden Moss, in late 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Professional career
Moss was drafted in the 8th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, out of Loganville High School
Loganville High School
Loganville High School is located in Walton County, Georgia, USA. Loganville is 35 miles east of Atlanta and 38 miles west of Athens.Walton County has nine elementary, three middle, and three high schools, and a Performance Learning Center.-The school:...
in Loganville, Georgia
Loganville, Georgia
Loganville is a city located mostly in Walton County with a small portion of the city located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population was 10,963 at the 2009 census.-Geography:...
. He was a 18 year old infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
when drafted, but transitioned into an outfield role.
Moss climbed up ladder of minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
ball, starting with the Gulf Coast Red Sox. He then played for the Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
, Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
, and Sarasota Red Sox. He spent two years with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
in and and played for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
.
2007
On August 6, he was called up to Boston to replace Eric HinskeEric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
when Hinske was placed on the bereavement leave. In his debut, he recorded his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
against Scot Shields
Scot Shields
Robert Scot Shields is a former American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He played his entire baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, serving as their setup man since...
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He then scored his first run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
on a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
by Shields. Later in the game, with the tying run on base, he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
against all-star closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Francisco Rodriguez to end the game. He was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket on August 10 to make room for Hinske, who was returning from bereavement leave. On September 1, Moss was recalled to Boston when major league rosters
Major League Baseball rosters
A Major League Baseball roster is a roster of players able to play for their respective Major League team. There are two types of rosters, the 25-man roster and the 40-man roster.-25-man roster:...
expanded to 40 players.
Moss' first major league RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
came on September 26 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
2008
On March 25 (MLB Japan Opening Day 2008), in a game held at the Tokyo DomeTokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
in Tokyo, Japan, Moss was a last-minute starter in right field after J.D. Drew was scratched from the line-up with lower back tightness. During this game, he hit his first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in the 9th inning off of Oakland A's closer Huston Street
Huston Street
Huston Lowell Street is an American baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. His father is former University of Texas quarterback James Street, and his brother Juston Street is currently a pitcher for the minor league Vancouver Canadians....
to tie the game. The Red Sox would go on to win the game 6-5 in 10 innings.
After playing the first two games of the season, Moss was optioned back to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on March 26.
Moss was recalled on April 29 and was batting .286 on May 3 when he was diagnosed with appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
and brought to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy.
On July 31, Moss was traded along with pitcher Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
Craig Robert Hansen is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. A closer out of St. John's University, Hansen was drafted in and quickly made his major league debut, but has since spent most of his career at the Triple-A level...
to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Jason Bay
Jason Bay
Jason Raymond Bay is a Canadian professional baseball player. An outfielder, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
to Boston. Moss immediately became the team's starting left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, replacing the departed Bay. He has since been shifted to right field. Moss missed the final six games of the 2008 season, but is expected to have surgery in the offseason and be recovered for spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
2009
He was the opening day Right fielder for the Pirates in 2009 but with the emergence of Delwyn YoungDelwyn Young
Delwyn Rudy Young is an outfielder and second baseman in Major League Baseball who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, playing for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.-High school years:...
and Garret Jones he was demoted from that role. He did see time pinch hitting and some starts. He finished 2009 with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 41 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, to go along with a .236 average, .304 on base percentage, a .364 slugging percentage, in 385 at bats.
2010
After hitting 3-for-37 in spring training, Moss was designated for assignmentDesignated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Pirates on March 29. He would later clear waivers and be outrighted to AAA (Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
).
2011
In the 2011 Major League Baseball season2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since , and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since...
he was in the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
minor league organization, and was called up to the big league club on September 16, 2011 after playing for the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
in the International League Championship series. He became a free agent on October 18.
Personal life
Moss is a cousin of country musician Alan JacksonAlan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
and the eldest of four children. He and his wife, Allison, had their first child, Jayden Moss, in late 2009.
Awards and recognition
- 2004 SoxProspects.com Player of the Year
- 2004 Augusta GreenJackets Player of the Year
- 2004 South Atlantic League MVP
- 2004 SAL Post-Season All-Star
- Florida State League Player of the Week (8.22.04)
- 2004 Red Sox Minor League Player of the Month (July)
- South Atlantic League Player of the Month (July 2004)
- 2004 South Atlantic League All Star
- 2004 South Atlantic League All Star Game MVP
- 2004 Red Sox Minor League Player of the Month (May)
- 2004 Baseball America Low-A Midseason All-Star
- Red Sox ML Defensive Player of the Month (May 2005)
- Eastern League All-Star (2005)
- Eastern League Player of the Week (9.06.05)
- Red Sox ML Offensive Player of the Month (June 2006)
- 2006 Portland Sea Dogs MVP
- 2006 Eastern League Playoff MVP
- 2007 International League All-Star
- 2007 Pawtucket Red Sox MVP
External links
- http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/MOSS19830916A.phpBaseball Prospectus PECOTAPECOTAPECOTA, an acronym for Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm, is a sabermetric system for forecasting Major League Baseball player performance. The word is a backronym based on the name of journeyman major league player Bill Pecota, who with a lifetime batting average of .249...
card] - SoxProspects Biography