Manuel Möller

Manuel P. Möller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 187 lb.

• Born August 11, 1983 in Mainz Germany

Manuel Möller is a pitcher for the Mainz Athletics. He once won a pitching Triple Crown.

Möller debuted in the Bundesliga in 2000. In 2001, he pitched for Germany in the European Junior Championship, allowing one hit and one run in 6 2/3 innings and fanning 7 but walking 10. Manuel went 2-1 with a save and a 3.99 ERA in 2002. In 2003, he went 3-7 with a 3.60 ERA for the Mainz Athletics. He tied for second in the Bundesliga's southern division in losses. In the 2003 European Championship, he allowed one run in 3 2/3 IP and walked four.

Möller improved significantly in his age 20 season, going 10-1 with a save and a 1.23 ERA. He led the southern Bundesliga in ERA, beating out former AAA hurler Rob Mattson. He struck out 116, second to former minor leaguer Ryan Balan and was also second to Balan in wins. He was second in innings (95 1/3). In the 2004 European Championship B-Pool, he allowed no runs in 5 innings and was 1-0.

The right-hander fell to 3-3, 4.94 in 2005. He was still with Germany for the 2005 European Championship, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA; in 14 innings, he allowed four hits and whiffed 11. His .089 average allowed was the lowest of any qualifying hurler in the event. Möller returned to form in 2006, posting a 11-3, 1.22 record. He led the southern Bundesliga in ERA by .84, led in wins, innings (111) and strikeouts (128) to pick up a pitching Triple Crown.

Manuel remained strong in 2007, going 10-2 with a save and a 2.27 ERA. He was second to Eddie Aucoin in ERA, was third in strikeouts (88), led in wins, led in innings (103) and allowed the lowest average (.185). He went 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA in the playoffs as Mainz took the title, their first ever. Möller was 1-1 with a 4.36 ERA in the 2007 European Championship, allowing 4 hits in 10 1/3 IP but walking six and plunking two. He missed the 2007 Baseball World Cup due to commitments off the baseball diamond.

In the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, the young right-hander walked four, fanned three and allowed two runs in 2 2/3 IP in a start against the South African national team but Germany rallied to win. In the 2008 European Cup in Grosseto, he was 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA, getting roughed up by the Marlins Puerto Cruz.

Möller faded a bit in 2008, with a 7-4, 2.82 record. He was in the top 10 in the southern division in ERA (7th), strikeouts (3rd with 74) and wins (tied for 4th). Möller said he would skip the second half of the 2009 season and the 2009 Baseball World Cup while preparing for examinations for becoming a physiotherapist.

Primary Sources

• IBAF
• German Baseball and Softball Federation
• 2008 European Cup in Grosseto