Former Pirate Moskos Returns to Lancaster

Daniel Moskos, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first round draft choice in 2007, has signed a 2017 contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.

In addition, the Barnstormers have inked catcher Tyler Clark to a 2017 contract.

Moskos, who played in Pittsburgh in 2011, had a huge part in Lancaster’s dominant second half bullpen during the 2015 season. The left-hander appeared in 16 games, including two starts, down the stretch of the ’15 campaign. He went 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 23.2 innings of work.

The South Carolina native was the fourth player drafted in 2007, coming out of Clemson University. Moskos won 11 games as a starter for Class AA Altoona in 2009, then saved 21 as a closer the following year. He made his Major League debut on April 30, 2011 at Colorado working a scoreless inning to start a streak of 10 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run at the beginning of his career.

In the process, Moskos recorded his only Major League win, a 2-1 extra-inning decision over Philadelphia on June 3 of that season.

He finished the year with a 1-1 mark and 2.96 ERA in 31 overall appearances in the big leagues. In 2013-14, Moskos pitched in Class AAA with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. Following his time with the Barnstormers, the left-hander was signed by the San Diego Padres and went 5-2 with a 3.39 ERA at Class AAA El Paso last season.

“Moskos is a great addition to this team,” said Peeples. “He brings us a very solid lefty out of our bullpen that we will be relying on.”

Clark, a Connecticut native signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 and spent the season in their organization, batting .265 with a homer and eight RBI over four different levels. He went to Windy City of the Frontier League in 2015.

Last year, the right-handed hitting catcher appeared in one game with Rockland of the CanAm Association, stroking a triple in one of his two at bats.

“Clark is a guy that (pitching coach) Scott Patterson found in Florida,” Peeples added. “I have heard he is a good catch and throw guy, and he will be given the chance to be our backup catcher here.”