Daniel Moskos Stats & Scouting Report

IP	24
ERA	3
WHIP	1.583
BB/9	3.375
SO/9	4.125

Full name Daniel Ross Moskos
Born 04/28/1986 in Greenville, SC
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Clemson
Debut 04/30/2011
Drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 (signed for $2,475,000).

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A Greenville, S.C., native, Moskos moved to California with his family, but returned to his roots to attend Clemson. He posted a 5.40 ERA in 21 relief appearances as a freshman, then inherited the Tigers' closer role as a sophomore and showed potential. He ranked as the No. 3 prospect for USA Baseball's college national team last summer, when he amassed 35 strikeouts and a stingy 0.86 ERA in 21 innings. With feel for three potentially plus pitched, he moved into Clemson's rotation near midseason and profiles as middle of the rotation starter in the big leagues. Stocky and compact, Moskos pounds the zone with a 91-95 mph fastball that bumped 97 out of the bullpen. He has a wipeout slider that has been up to 87 and also shows a more conventional curveball that he tends to use earlier in the count, just to keep hitters off balance. His changeup has fade, and he mixed all four of his pitches extremely well. Moskos has solid-average command of all of his stuff. He lacks projection and doesn't hold runners well. He joins Ross Detwiler and David Price as the cream of an especially strong crop of lefthanders in this year's draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Moskos likely never will live down the controversy that surrounded his selection as the fourth overall pick in 2007, just ahead of Matt Wieters going to Baltimore, or live up to his $2.475 million bonus. He appeared to be carving his own path in 2010 until hitting a wall with his midseason promotion to Triple-A. Moskos dominated Double-A batters, allowing a .179 opponent average, and nailed down 21 of 22 saves, plus a 5-for-5 showing in the playoffs for Eastern League champion Altoona. His June 25 promotion to Triple-A went poorly, though, with a 10.38 ERA and .351 opponent average. Some scouts thought he developed a case of the yips, and when he was sent back to Double-A in August he immediately found his footing again. Moskos has a plus slider that he can throw for strikes consistently, and a sinking splitter that he uses as a changeup. His delivery comes with excruciating effort, including an extra hip turn, and he is not a very flexible athlete. His command has improved and should be average. Added to the 40-man roster in November, Moskos' next step will be a second try in the Indianapolis bullpen.
The eminently likeable Moskos is the prospect frustrated Pirates fans love to hate, through no fault of his own. The fans haven't forgotten that former general manager Dave Littlefield chose Moskos with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft, when Matt Wieters was still on the board. Littlefield feared that Wieters wouldn't sign for less than $12 million (though he ultimately took $6 million), and Pittsburgh landed Moskos for $2.475 million. While Wieters was establishing himself in the major leagues last season, Moskos was in the rotation at Double-A Altoona. He had a solid season, but his strikeout rate (4.7 per nine innings) shows how much his stuff has diminished since his days at Clemson. His formerly 95 mph fastball is down to the high 80s, and the wipeout slider no longer has the same bite. Instead, he gets by on moving the ball around the strike zone and pitching to contact. He also throws a curveball and changeup, though neither is anything special. The Pirates were encouraged that Moskos showed up to spring training in top shape last season after struggling with his conditioning in 2008. He'll begin this season in the Indianapolis rotation, but his role in the majors more likely will be as a reliever.
Moskos' pro career couldn't have started much worse. Through no fault of his own, Moskos became a lightning rod for frustrated Pirates fans after the braintrust of former general manager David Littlefield took him instead of Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 draft. Littlefield thought Wieters would command a $12 million contract, though he settled for $6 million from the Orioles, who took him one pick after Moskos. While Wieters was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year in 2008, Moskos has a 6.13 ERA through the first 116 innings of his career. He has lost velocity since college as his fastball rarely has topped 90 mph in pro ball, and the wipeout slider that was his best pitch at Clemson has flattened out. His control was shaky at times, too, which didn't help. Moskos looked like a potential late-inning reliever coming out of college, though he started in high Class A last season in order to get innings. He moved to the bullpen after posting a horrid 11.81 ERA in July and was better in relief, where he didn't have to use his less-effective curveball and changeup as much. If his performance doesn't improve, he'll project as a situational lefthander, which is not what Pittsburgh had in mind when it signed him for $2.475 million.
Pittsburgh created quite a stir by selecting Moskos with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft, passing up Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters because of his price tag. Then- GM Dave Littlefield caused more outrage when he announced Moskos, who signed for $2.475 million, would be a reliever. Clemson moved him into its rotation during the spring and several clubs believed he has the pitches to start as a pro. Moskos has a live arm with a fastball that touched 97 mph in college and was consistently in the 91-95 range. He has a wipeout slider that reaches 87 mph, along with a decent curveball and a changeup with good fade. He wins high marks for his competitiveness. In his pro debut, Moskos' fastball rarely hit 90 mph until his last few outings. The Pirates insist the loss of velocity was a matter of fatigue and not something more serious. His curveball and changeup need polish, though that's less of an issue if he's not a starter. His fastball and slider are major league pitches, so Moskos will ride the fast track if he remains a reliever. He'll likely open at high Class A Lynchburg and should reach the majors by no later than 2009.

Minor League Top Prospects

Like Cecil, Moskos spent most of his college career as a closer. Clemson moved him to the front of its weekend rotation midway through the 2007 season and scouts believe he could start as a pro, but the Pirates kept him in the bullpen for his pro debut. Early in the summer, he didn't have his good fastball, worked in the 88-89 mph range and fell behind hitters, and his ERA ballooned. But he settled down late in the season and climbed back into the 90s and touched 94 with late, heavy action on his fastball that gave State College catchers fits. His sharp slider is an out pitch, and he flashes a quality changeup but rarely uses it.