Danny Moskos

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Daniel Ross Moskos

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Biographical Information[edit]

Danny Moskos was the 5th college pitcher drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the amateur draft in a 7-year period.

Moskos debuted in college at Clemson University in 2005 with a 2-2, 5.40 record in 21 games. That summer, he was 3-4 with one save and a 3.82 ERA for the Cotuit Kettleers. In 2006, he improved with a 5-5, 2.52 record, 10 saves and just over a strikeout per inning. He had the 3rd-best ERA on the #5 team in NCAA Division I. For the 2006 USA college national team, he had a 0.96 ERA, 6 saves, 31 strikeouts and only 6 hits and 4 walks allowed in 19 IP as the club's primary closer.

He was 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA and about a strikeout per inning through most of the 2007 season. He was then picked with the 4th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Given his sub-.500 record and the team's history of pitchers taken in the first round being lost to injury (Bryan Bullington, Bobby Bradley, John Van Benschoten, Brad Lincoln and Sean Burnett) in the prior decade, the move was widely decried by Pirates fans who had been hoping they would select a hitter instead. The Pirates then said they would use Moskos as a closer, tying Gregg Olson for the earliest a team had picked a relief pitcher in the draft. Moskos was signed by scout Greg Schilz for a $2,475,000 bonus.

At his first press conference, Moskos said he was aware of the fan criticism of the drafting but that he believed the Pirates when they said he was the player they most sought. He debuted professionally on July 29 with a scoreless inning against the GCL Orioles, allowing one hit for the GCL Pirates. After 3 scoreless innings for the GCL Pirates, he was promoted to the State College Spikes, where he saved one game in 11 outings and allowed a .328 opponent average and 4.26 ERA. Despite his struggles, Baseball America rated him the #4 prospect in the New York-Penn League.

Moskos was converted to a starting pitcher in 2008 but fizzled. He was 7-7 with a 6.30 ERA in 20 starts for the Lynchburg Hillcats. Moved back to relief, he lowered his ERA to 5.95 by season's end while not registering another decision. In 2009, Danny was 11-10 with a 3.74 ERA for the Altoona Curve, showing big strides. He was 7th in the Eastern League in ERA.

Danny moved back to the bullpen in 2010 and started the year on a very high note, going 2-1 with 17 saves and a 1.45 ERA for Altoona. He was promoted to the AAA Indianapolis Indians, where he tanked, going 0-5 with a 10.38 ERA, over a walk per inning and a .351 opponent average in 19 games. He was then shipped back to Altoona. For the year, he was 3-1 with 21 saves and a 1.52 ERA for the Curve. He finished second in the EL in saves, behind Rafael Cova.

After giving up only 2 earned runs in his first 8 games for Indianapolis in 2011, he was promoted to the Pirates when Evan Meek went on the DL. Pittsburgh had only one left-hander in their bullpen at the time, Joe Beimel. He pitched a scoreless inning of relief against the Colorado Rockies in his first taste of major league action on April 30. Replacing Paul Maholm in the 8th with a 4-1 deficit, he retired Carlos González, José López and Seth Smith 1-2-3. He was a solid hurler for the 2011 Pirates at 1-1, 2.96 in 31 games though his peripheral numbers were not as good (11 K in 24 1/3 IP, .302 opponent average). He also pitched 30 games for Indianapolis, going 1-1 with 3 saves and a 3.43 ERA.

Moskos opened 2012 with Indianapolis (1-2, 3.86 in 14 G) then was waived when Eric Fryer was added to the 40-man roster. The Chicago White Sox claimed Moskos and sent him to the Charlotte Knights, for whom he was 1-1 with two saves and a 4.43 ERA. He opened 2013 back with Charlotte (2-1, Sv, 4.97 in 22 G) then joined Taiwan's EDA Rhinos. In 2014 Moskos pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers system before Tommy John surgery ended his season. He returned in 2016 with the San Diego Padres organization. Moskos spent 2017 pitching for the independent Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. Moskos finished his pitching career in 2018 as a reliever for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.

Moskos threw a "nasty" slider. His fastball sometimes hit 95 mph.

After the 2018 season Moskos went to Driveline Baseball hoping for one last shot in affiliated ball. Instead, he fell in love with the program and worked at Driveline in 2019 as a throwing trainer. In 2020 the New York Yankees hired Moskos to be the Charleston RiverDogs pitching coach before the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the minor league season. Moskos was the pitching coach for the Somerset Patriots in 2021. In 2022 he was hired by the Chicago Cubs to be their major league assistant pitching coach, a role he continued through the 2024 season.

Related Sites[edit]

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