Moskos taken in first round

by Press Release - Thu Jun 07 15:47:18 GMT-04:00 2007

Clemson, SC-Clemson junior left-handed pitcher Daniel Moskos was taken in the first round of the Major League First-Year Player Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. The native of Alta Loma, CA was the number-four selection of the entire draft, the highest selection by a Clemson baseball player since Kris Benson was taken first and Billy Koch was taken fourth, in the 1996 draft.

Moskos is Clemson's number-one starter and will be on the mound for the Tigers Friday when Clemson faces Mississippi State in Starkville, MS in the opening game of the Super Regional. It will be his 10th start of the season. Earlier in the year, Moskos was a closer, but he has been a starter the second half of the year.

Moskos has a 3-5 record and a 2.91 ERA in 26 appearances this year. He has struck out 74 batters in 74 1/3 innings. He has walked 33 and allowed 71 hits. In addition to his three wins, he has six saves. As a sophomore in 2006, he helped Clemson to the College World Series with a 5-5 record and a 2.52 ERA. He led the team in saves with 10.

For his three-year career, Moskos has a 10-12 record with a 3.05 ERA. He has 143 strikeouts in 144 2/3 innings. Entering the NCAA Super Regional, Moskos has 16 saves, fourth best in Clemson history. His 80 career appearances are fifth most in school history.

Moskos had an outstanding summer of 2006 when he had a 0.86 ERA and six saves in 18 appearances for the United States National team. He helped that team to the Gold Medal of the World Championships in Cuba with 35 strikeouts in just 21 innings.

Moskos is the 13th first-round draft choice in Clemson history, the ninth under current head coach Jack Leggett. Tyler Colvin was the 13th selection of the entire draft by the Chicago Cubs last year. This is the first time Clemson has had a first-round selection in consecutive years since the 1995-97 era when Clemson had a first-round selection three consecutive years.

There is a Clemson connection with the Pirates organization. General Manager David Littlefield was an assistant coach at Clemson under Bill Wilhelm from 1986-88.

With Moskos' selection today, it means Clemson has had the number-four selection in the NFL draft and the Major League Draft just six weeks apart. In April, Gaines Adams was the number-four selection of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Clemson's First Round Baseball Draft Selections

Year Player Pos Team

1968 John Curtis LHP Boston Red Sox

1975 Denny Walling OF Oakland Athletics

1979 Mike Sullivan RHP Cincinnati Reds

1987 Bill Spiers SS Milwaukee Brewers

1995 David Miller 1B Cleveland Indians

1996 Kris Benson RHP Pittsburgh Pirates

Billy Koch RHP Toronto Bluejays

1997 Matthew Lecroy C Minnesota Twins

1999 Mike Paradis RHP Baltimore Orioles

2002 Khalil Greene SS San Diego Padres