Peter Moylan

Peter Moylan's journey to the major leagues is an interesting story. After failing to stay in the majors after the 1997season, Moylan took off for his native Australia and took a job as a pharmaceutical salesman, but baseball was still very much in his blood and heart. Moylan began his big comeback in the World Baseball Classic. Moylan was picked for the Australian team after his performance in the Claxton Shield.

The Claxton Shield is the premier baseball competition in Australia, first held in 1934. The Claxton Shield is also the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team, and has been awarded to winners of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) and the International Baseball League of Australia (IBLA). http://www.baseballvictoria.com.au/default.asp?Page=62506

His 96 mph fastball was good enough to get out the likes of major leaguers Bobby Abreu, Marco Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez and Magglio Ordóñez. His performance was impressive enough to be invited to spring training by the Atlanta Braves in 2006. Moylan was then signed by the Braves and sent to the Triple A Richmond Braves.

Moylan would be called up briefly that year to replace Joey Devine in the Braves bullpen and then sent back later, but in April 2007,Moylan would make the big club for good. Days later after being brought up, Moylan would get his first major league win against the Florida Marlins and three days later would get his first major league save against the Colorado Rockies.

Moylan would end his first season with the Braves with a 5-3 mark and an 1.80 ERA. In 2008, Moylan's season would be cut short by an injury to his elbow which would require Tommy John Surgery to repair his elbow which would end his 2008 season.

He would make a come back in 2009 as a middle reliever for the Braves.

Pete Moylan's biggest accomplishment has to be his reentering the major leagues. How does a pitcher come out of no where to make a comeback in the best league in the world? Moylan was pitching in the Australian Baseball League and then for the National Team before he was discovered by the Atlanta Braves. Moylan's story is almost like a fairytale and is about getting second chances as well. Moylan at one point played for the Minnesota Twins back in 1997 when he left baseball to come home.http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=493247. When Moylan made his comeback with the Braves his velocity on his pitches had gone up 10 mph and he pitched sidearm ala former major league reliever Dennis Eckersley.

In 2009 Moylan pitched in 87 games (2nd in Majors) and didn't allow a home run. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he established a Major League record for the most games in a season without allowing a homer. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=493247