PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was the Pirates first-round pick that was the poster for drafting for a budget and not the best player available. Now Daniel Moskos is back in the majors.
The 35-year-old hired by the Cubs as their assistant pitching coach after two seasons with the Yankees minor-league system.
Coming out of Clemson as a senior, with no leverage because he couldn’t go back to school, the Bucs made the left-hand pitcher the fourth overall pick. The scouting report is that he might be a reliever someday, but it was the fourth overall pick.
GM Dave Littlefield famously passed on catcher Matt Wieters who became a four-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover and played in 1,075 career games. Moskos pitched in 31 games, all as a rookie and did have a 2.96 ERA. The next season the Pirates waived Moskos. He would never return to the majors, until now, as the Cubs coach.
Other players going later in the 2007 first round-Madison Bumgarner, Jason Heyward, Devin Mesoraco, Todd Frazier and Josh Donaldson.
The name Moskos sends a shutter to many Pirates fans. His name resurfaces, and many of the same feelings come flooding back.