Peter Moylan
Encyclopedia
Peter Michael Moylan is a relief pitcher
for the Atlanta Braves
in Major League Baseball
. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball
and throws sidearm
.
system. He was released in 1998 and returned to Australia, taking a job as a pharmaceutical salesman. 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 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
.
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 , 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. 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.
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. 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, it was later estimated that he would need six-month recovery period, allowing him to be ready for spring training in 2012.
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.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 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...
. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and throws sidearm
Sidearm
In baseball, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis ....
.
Early career
Moylan began his professional career in the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
system. He was released in 1998 and returned to Australia, taking a job as a pharmaceutical salesman. 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
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. He was selected for that tournament following his strong showing in the Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team...
. His 96 mph fastball enabled him to strike out established major-leaguers Bobby Abreu
Bobby Abreu
Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu , nicknamed "El Comedulce" and also "La Luche", is a Major League Baseball left fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim....
, Marco Scutaro
Marco Scutaro
Marcos Hernandez "Marco" Scutaro is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A native of Yaracuy State, Venezuela, Scutaro formerly played with the New York Mets , Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays...
, Ramon Hernandez
Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...
and Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
. Based on his performance in this tournament, Moylan was invited to participate in 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...
prior to the 2006 season with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Atlanta Braves
Peter Moylan was signed by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and assigned to their Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
Richmond club. On 11 April 2006, Moylan was called up to the Atlanta Braves to replace Joey Devine
Joey Devine
Joseph Neal "Joey" Devine is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Atlanta Braves:...
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 , 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
Chad Paronto
Chad Michael Paronto is an American Baseball player. Paronto attended the University of Massachusetts before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth round of the amateur draft. Paronto's best pitches include a 90-94 mph fastball and a heavy sinker which he uses mainly with men...
. 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
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in Miami on 24 April 2007. He earned his first major league save three days later against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in Denver. He finished the season 5-3 with a 1.80 ERA. He led the majors in intentional walks allowed, with 12. 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
Bone spur
Osteophytes, commonly referred to as bone spurs, are bony projections that form along joint margins. They should not be confused with enthesophytes, which are bony projections which form at the attachment of a tendon or ligament.-Pathophysiology:...
. 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
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
.
Moylan exceeded rehabilitation expectations and was declared fit to pitch during the Braves' 2009 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...
camp in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. 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
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 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
Brian Shouse
Brian Douglas Shouse is a former left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Starting in 2001, Shouse pitched with a distinctive sidearm delivery, which replaced his earlier, more traditional, overhand delivery.-Career:...
with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 2007.
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. 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, it was later estimated that he would need six-month recovery period, allowing him to be ready for spring training in 2012.
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.