Damian Joseph Moss is a former Australian Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from Darlinghurst, New South Wales. He played in MLB from 2001 to 2004 for the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, later returning to professional baseball in the minor leagues, independent baseball and international competition. The supplied Colorado Rockies association is historical: MLB records show Moss was assigned to the Rockies organisation in March 2010, with…
Born in Darlinghurst on 24 November 1976, Damian Moss attended Liverpool Boys High School in Sydney, where MLB records state that he played baseball and rugby. He developed as a left-handed pitcher and progressed through the Atlanta Braves system after signing professionally. His early career was interrupted by ligament-reconstruction surgery in 1998, after which he rebuilt his arm strength and returned to the Braves prospect pathway.
Moss reached the majors with Atlanta on 26 April 2001. His major breakthrough came in 2002, when he became a regular member of the Braves rotation and produced a 12–6 record, a 3.42 ERA and 179.0 innings. He was named to the Topps and Baseball Digest Major League Rookie All-Star teams and finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. One of his defining performances came against St Louis on 3 May 2002, when he carried a no-hitter through seven innings before Atlanta won 2–1 in extra innings.
After the 2002 season, Moss was traded by Atlanta to the San Francisco Giants. He split 2003 between San Francisco and Baltimore following a later trade involving Sidney Ponson, and he finished his MLB career with Tampa Bay in 2004. Across 74 major-league appearances, including 61 starts, he recorded 22 wins, 19 losses, a 4.50 ERA, 361.2 innings and 204 strikeouts.
Moss continued pitching after his MLB career, including time in Triple-A, independent baseball and winter leagues. He represented Australia at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where MLB records credit him with Australia's only win of the tournament. He joined the Colorado Rockies organisation on a minor-league contract in February 2010 and was assigned to Colorado Springs. His final documented professional season was 2010, after which he retired from playing. No verified current playing, coaching or roster role has been identified.
Moss's first major professional breakthrough was his 2002 Atlanta Braves rookie season. He went 12–6 with a 3.42 ERA in 33 games, including 29 starts and 179.0 innings, and was recognised on the Topps and Baseball Digest Major League Rookie All-Star teams. His MLB debut had come on 26 April 2001.
MLB career: 74 games, 61 starts, 22–19 win-loss record, 4.50 ERA, 361.2 innings, 204 strikeouts and 1.48 WHIP. Best MLB season: 2002 with Atlanta, when he went 12–6 with a 3.42 ERA, 179.0 innings and 111 strikeouts. He finished fifth in 2002 National League Rookie of the Year voting and was selected to the Topps and Baseball Digest Major League Rookie All-Star teams.
On 3 May 2002, Moss held the St Louis Cardinals hitless for seven innings in a game Atlanta eventually won 2–1 in 11 innings. He also made two relief appearances for Atlanta in the 2002 National League Division Series. At the 2009 World Baseball Classic, he earned Australia's only win by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings against Mexico in a 17–7 victory.