By Nina Zimmerman
NEW YORK -- For the ninth time in a professional baseball career that began 20 years ago, Team Australia's own Peter Moylan is back in the Majors, this time with the reigning World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. The Royals called up Moylan on 12 May to reinforce their pitching staff, after putting two players on the disabled list.
In the latest chapter of a professional career that dates back to 1996, his first season in the Minors in the USA, Moylan signed with the Royals in January, at the end of the Australian Baseball League season. He made one appearance for the Jet Couriers Melbourne Aces, tossing a scoreless inning on 15 January against Brisbane.
One month later, he took the field for Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Sydney, showing spotless form on the mound as the Southern Thunder powered past the New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa to qualify for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Moylan went 1-0 with a save in two games spanning 2.1 innings in the tournament, striking out four batters while walking one. Returning to the WBC with Team Australia carries more meaning for Moylan than for most players, since his original shot at MLB came after he signed with the Atlanta Braves on the heels of his standout performance in the 2006 WBC.
Shortly after the WBCQ, Moylan reported to Royals Spring Training in Arizona, and went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 10 spring outings on the mound. The Royals released him at the end of March, but re-signed him two days later to a Minor League contract. He began the 2016 season with Triple-A Omaha, posting a 1-1 record, 5 saves and a miniscule 0.71 ERA in 12 games, striking out 10 batters and allowing just eight hits in 12.2 innings pitched.
When he debuts for Kansas City, Moylan will join Aussie legends Justin Huber, Graeme Lloyd and Liam Hendriks as the only Australian-born players to play for the Royals. He will also be the second Australian to play in MLB this season, joining Hendriks, who is currently on the disabled list for the Oakland Athletics.
Read more about Peter's journey in his Southern Thunder player profile.