There are no guarantees in baseball. Literally none.
Professional players must fight and earn everything they achieve without
exceptions. This includes former top draft picks like pitcher Daniel
Moskos, who had a 12-year professional career and reached the majors
leagues, but had nothing given to him along the way.
The left-handed Moskos was highly coveted while in college
for the Clemson Tigers. So highly was he thought of that the Pittsburgh Pirates
took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft. A starter by trade, he
transitioned to the bullpen during the 2009 season, and was called up to the
Pirates in 2011. He appeared in 31 games in relief for them, going 1-1 with a
2.96 ERA.
Moskos was stuck in Triple-A the next season and was
ultimately claimed by the Chicago White Sox off waivers. He has since pitched
in the organizations of the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Independent
ball and in the Mexican League, but has not made it back to the big league to
date. Injuries and personal issues have kept him off the field at various
times, but he has kept pushing through it all.
Still just 32, he has accumulated a professional record of
48-37 with a 3.83 ERA. He is not currently pitching but is not officially
retired either. He is currently working within the baseball world and still has
a thing or two to prove if another team picks up the phone and gives him a call.
Keep reading for more from the southpaw about his career in baseball.
Daniel Moskos
Interview
Who was your favorite
player when you were growing up, and why?: My favorite player growing up
was John Smoltz. I was a huge Atlanta Braves fan, and I
actually got the chance to meet him when I was about 5 years old, so I always
thought that was really cool. Plus, he
would dominate as a starter and a reliever, whatever the team needed.
Can you please
describe what your draft experience was like, being taken as the 4th overall
pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007?: The draft was really stressful,
but obviously worked out pretty well for me.
It is still a lot to handle as a 21-year-old kid. Between playing baseball, going to class, and
having to meet with scouts it was a lot.
So, when the day came, which was the day before our super regional
series against Mississippi St., it was quite a relief. I actually didn’t know that the Pirates were
going to draft me, I found out when everyone else did. I was fortunate enough to have my parents and
my girl friend(now wife) with me. For
the record, I thought I was going to the Rockies. The feeling of getting drafted was everything
I thought it would be and more, just amazing.
Being a high draft
pick, how stressful was the extra attention you received as you worked your way
up the minors?: I didn’t really find extra stress with being a high draft
pick. Baseball is hard enough as is, so
I simply focused on what I could control, which was to work on getting better
one day at a time. The Pirates were very
good at focusing on the process, and not so much about the results. The concept was to make you the best big
leaguer you can be, not just be good in High-A, Double-A, or where you are
playing.
What do you remember
most about your major league debut?: I remember pretty much
everything. From my flight getting in
that morning, to taking a cab to the field, shagging batting practice, my name
getting called to warm up in the bullpen, and throwing my first pitch; a
fastball that was a called strike to Carlos
Gonzalez, lol. It was a dream
come true.
In your opinion, who
was the most underrated player you ever played with or against, and if you are
feeling bold, is there anyone you can think of who was overrated?: The most
underrated player that I played with, at the time, was Josh
Harrison. Obviously, he
turned out to have a really good career, and is super versatile, but when I
played with him he was relatively unknown.
I always thought he was going to be a everyday regular that needed more
recognition. Not going to touch the
overrated side, hahaha.
What is your favorite
moment from your baseball career?: My favorite moment would have to be my
big league debut. I have a lot of great
moments that I will always cherish, but the debut confirmed what I had always
dreamed of as a kid. I was a major
league. It still feels surreal to say that, and I would never take it for
granted.
What pitches did you
throw, and what was your best weapon?: My repertoire was a two-seam and
four-seam fastball, slider, and a changeup.
My best offering was my fastball.
Given how well you
pitched for Pittsburgh in 2011 (and in subsequent minor league seasons) what
are your thoughts on not having gotten back to the major leagues since?: Baseball
is a game where opportunity is very important.
Unfortunately for me I got hurt at the wrong time. My elbow started bothering me in spring
training of 2012. It nagged me all
season and I had surgery that offseason.
Just a clean up procedure. The next year it still didn’t feel right, and
my results showed that. Then in 2014 it
finally blew out on me, and I had Tommy John surgery. It has felt amazing ever since, but I think
it might have been too little too late.
The game is going younger, and I am getting older. I believe that I can still get big league
hitters out, but I guess major league organizations don’t agree.
What are your 2019
baseball plans and how long would you like to keep playing?: My 2019 plans
were originally to go back to Mexico to play another year. However, that all changed when I came to Driveline
to train. It’s a facility in Seattle
that is changing the game of baseball, and they caused me to change the way I
looked at my career. So, I talked to
some of the employees about the idea of me working with the company, and now
I’m an employee of the company. I still
throw and keep myself in shape, if an MLB team comes calling for my services I
would have to at least consider it.
Right now though, I couldn’t be happier with where I am at.
Who is a current or
former player you wish you had the chance to pitch against, and how would you
approach that at-bat?: Barry Bonds. He’s the best hitter there ever was and
probably ever will be. My approach would
be to hope he hits it at someone, lol.
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