Damian Moss
Encyclopedia
Damian Joseph Moss is a retired Major League Baseball
left-handed
pitcher
.
, Moss would also spend the season in Atlanta, where he placed fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year award. Moss split the season with the San Francisco Giants
and Baltimore Orioles
before landing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played in . While Moss excelled in his first season with the Braves, he subsequently struggled with inconsistency and poor control.
Moss has been traded twice, first from the Braves to the Giants with Merkin Valdéz
for Russ Ortiz
, and then, at the 2003 trading deadline, from the Giants to the Orioles with Kurt Ainsworth
and Ryan Hannaman for Sidney Ponson
.
Moss was suspended on April 5, 2005, while in the minor leagues for steroid use. He spent the entire season with the Triple A Tacoma Rainers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners
. Despite a solid season, he was not called up to the majors.
On May 12, 2006, Moss was signed by the Long Island Ducks
of the independent Atlantic League
. Moss was signed by the Atlanta Braves, but they released him after just three starts in the minors. (1-2, 10.12 ERA) Moss joined the Mayaguez Indios for the 2006/ Winter League season in Puerto Rico
.
Though a non-roster invitee for the San Francisco Giants
during 2007 spring training
, Moss opted to leave camp on February 18 for personal reasons, thereby moving to voluntarily retirement status. Moss signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on February 14, 2008. Moss began the season as a starting pitcher for the Braves' Triple-A affiliate before being demoted to Double-A in June. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
After both playing and being on the pitching staff of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
in 2009, Moss was signed by the Colorado Rockies
to a minor-league deal on February 1, 2010.
He was released and pitched for the Long Island Ducks
during 2010 and retired after the 2010 season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Career
After making his major league debut on April 26, , with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Moss would also spend the season in Atlanta, where he placed fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year award. Moss split the season with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
before landing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played in . While Moss excelled in his first season with the Braves, he subsequently struggled with inconsistency and poor control.
Moss has been traded twice, first from the Braves to the Giants with Merkin Valdéz
Merkin Valdéz
Merkin R. Valdéz Mola is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic.-Atlanta Braves:...
for Russ Ortiz
Russ Ortiz
Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, and then, at the 2003 trading deadline, from the Giants to the Orioles with Kurt Ainsworth
Kurt Ainsworth
Kurt Harold Ainsworth is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles and went to Louisiana State University...
and Ryan Hannaman for Sidney Ponson
Sidney Ponson
Sidney Alton Ponson is a Major League pitcher who is currently a free agent. According to the Atlantic League website Ponson was placed on the "Retired" list as of June 18, 2010. Ponson stands at 6'1" tall and weighs 260 pounds. He throws right-handed...
.
Moss was suspended on April 5, 2005, while in the minor leagues for steroid use. He spent the entire season with the Triple A Tacoma Rainers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Despite a solid season, he was not called up to the majors.
On May 12, 2006, Moss was signed by the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. Moss was signed by the Atlanta Braves, but they released him after just three starts in the minors. (1-2, 10.12 ERA) Moss joined the Mayaguez Indios for the 2006/ Winter League season in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Though a non-roster invitee for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
during 2007 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, Moss opted to leave camp on February 18 for personal reasons, thereby moving to voluntarily retirement status. Moss signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on February 14, 2008. Moss began the season as a starting pitcher for the Braves' Triple-A affiliate before being demoted to Double-A in June. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
After both playing and being on the pitching staff of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
in 2009, Moss was signed by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
to a minor-league deal on February 1, 2010.
He was released and pitched for the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
during 2010 and retired after the 2010 season.