Mike Moustakas

Mike Moustakas

Moustakas with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals – No. 8
Third baseman
Born: (1988-09-11) September 11, 1988
Los Angeles, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 10, 2011, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .247
Hits 613
Home runs 81
Runs batted in 294
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Michael Christopher "Mike" Moustakas (/muːˈstɑːkəs/; born September 11, 1988) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted second overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Royals.[1] During games he is often greeted by calls of "Moose", a nickname given by fans and the media.[2] The team encourages the nickname by selling foam moose antlers in the Kauffman Stadium gift shop, as well as a giveaway night in 2012.[2]

High school career

Moustakas attended Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, California, where he was a four-year starter in baseball. During that time he helped Chatsworth to a 124–11 record, including four West Valley League championships, and two CIF city titles. Moustakas was voted "Player of the Year" by Cal-Hi Sports in both his sophomore and junior years.[3] His 52 career home runs in high school are a California prep state record.[4]

Moustakas attempted to be a two-sport player for Chatsworth, but a broken ankle suffered in his first game as quarterback for the Chancellors ended his high school football career, and nearly ended his baseball career as well. However, after three months of rehabilitation Moustakas was able to resume playing.[5] In 2006 Moustakas was a member of USA Baseball's Junior National Team, competing in the World Junior Championships in Cuba. He topped off his prep career by being named Baseball America 's High School Player of the Year in 2007, an honor previously bestowed on MLB stars like Joe Mauer, Homer Bailey and Josh Hamilton.[6] Moustakas was also selected to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team in 2007.[7] He was offered a scholarship to USC, but turned it down and decided to enter the 2007 MLB Draft.[5]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Moustakas during his tenure with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, High-A affiliates of the Kansas City Royals, in 2009.

Moustakas was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the second overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft. He signed with the team on August 15, 2007, receiving a reported signing bonus of $4 million.[8] Fellow Chatsworth teammate Matt Dominguez was chosen by the Florida Marlins with the 12th overall pick of the amateur draft. The pair became just the sixth set of high school teammates to be selected in the first round of the same draft.[9]

Entering 2009, Moustakas was widely regarded as one of the top baseball prospects in all of minor league baseball. The Sporting News ranked Moustakas as the 13th-best prospect overall,[10] while MLB.com listed Moustakas as their 11th-best prospect in all of baseball.[11] Moustakas, however, had trouble adjusting to the Carolina League in 2009. While his power remained, his ability to hit for a high average went down significantly. In 2010, Moustakas' power and average increased significantly. As of July 13, 2010, Moustakas was hitting .352 with 21 homers and 76 runs batted in in AA Northwest Arkansas. On July 15, 2010, he was promoted to Triple-A Omaha.[12] On August 30, 2010, Moustakas was named the 2010 Texas League Player of the Year and on the same night, he set an Omaha Royals record with three home runs and 11 RBIs in one game.[13] Moustakas won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award for most home runs in minor league baseball, winning a tiebreaker with Mark Trumbo.[14] On May 22, 2014, he was demoted to Triple-A Omaha after batting just .152 through 139 plate appearances.

Kansas City Royals

2011

Moustakas had his contract purchased by Kansas City on June 9, 2011.[15] He made his debut the following night against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, going 1–3 with a walk and a run scored. His first major league hit came in his third plate appearance against Ervin Santana, where he would eventually score in the 4–2 win.[16] Moustakas went on to play in 89 games for Kansas City in 2011, finishing the season with five home runs, thirty RBIs, and a season batting average of .263.[2]

2012

On February 18, 2012 the Royals announced they had signed Moustakas to a one-year contract for the 2012 season. No financial terms of the deal were released.[17] During the 2012 season Moustakas set a new club record for K.C., playing 47 straight games without an error. He also made 41 double plays far besting the previous mark of 34 Mark Teahen set in 2006.[2] Moustakas finished the year batting .242 with a .296 OBP with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs, also hitting 34 doubles.[2]

2013

In 2013, Moustakas' locker was assigned next to George Kottaras, who is also of Greek descent. "I don't know how many times you've had two Greek guys in the same clubhouse on the same team," Kottaras said. "And they put us next to each other, which makes it even better."[18]

In 2013, he batted .233 with a .287 on base percentage, 12 home runs, and 42 RBI.[19] He also led all American League third basemen with 16 errors.[19]

2014

Moustakas struggled early in the 2014 season. On May 22, 2014, he was demoted to Triple-A Omaha after batting just .152 through 139 plate appearances, though he led the team in homers with 4.[20] On June 1, Moustakas was recalled from AAA.[21] He began to hit more consistently after this. He finished the season batting .212, while hitting 15 homers and driving in 54 runs. Moustakas tore through the 2014 Playoffs, hitting 5 homeruns, including a go-ahead solo shot in the 11th inning of game 1 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He led all 2014 Postseason players in homers. The Royals would then lose to the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series.

2015

In 2015, Moustakas carried over his success from the postseason and had a batting average at or above .300 right up until the All-Star break. He was selected to the 2015 All-Star Game via the All-Star Game Final Vote. Moustakas was placed on the family emergency list twice during the first half of the 2015 season. On September 12, Moustakas set a new Royals franchise record against the Baltimore Orioles, with 9 RBI, eclipsing the previous mark of seven set by Billy Butler and George Brett. He hit a grand slam, three-run home run and a two-run single in the 14-6 win. In 147 games, Moustakas batted .284 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI. The Royals clinched an AL Central Pennant and went to the World Series again, this time to beat the New York Mets. It was the Royals first championship title in 30 years.

2016

On May 7, 2016, Moustakas was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a fractured left thumb. On May 22, Moustakas suffered a right knee injury while colliding with teammate Alex Gordon in an attempt to fetch a pop up in foul territory. The next day, an MRI revealed that there was a torn ACL in the knee, ending Moustakas' 2016 season.[22]

Personal life

The son of Connie and Mike Moustakas, a former college football player for UCLA, Mike was born in Los Angeles on September 11, 1988.[3][7] He is of Greek descent, as his grandmother was born in Greece, and flies a Greek flag above his locker in the Royals' clubhouse.[18] He is the nephew of author, MLB player and former New York Mets hitting coach Tom Robson, who gave Moustakas hitting tips growing up.[23] He grew up in the Los Angeles area. Moustakas' mother died after a long illness in 2015.[24]

When not playing baseball Moustakas enjoys golf and fishing. He claims his golf game is much like hunting, however, as he spends most of his time in the woods.[25] Asked by USA Today what career he would enjoy other than baseball, Moustakas expressed an interest in being a firefighter. He owns an English bulldog named Molly.[25]

Moustakas has been married to his wife, Stephanie, since January 2014. They had their first child, Mila Constance Moustakas, on Aug. 30, 2016. [26]

References

  1. ↑ "2007 MLB.com Draft Tracker". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Duber, Vinnie (January 3, 2013). "Evolving Moustakas a hit on and off the field". MLB.com via KC Royals official team website. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Chatsworth Baseball". Chatsworth High School Athletic Department. 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Moustakas Bio and Stats". Wilmington.bluerocks.milb.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Sondheimer, Eric (October 13, 2006). "Athletes' Mental Health Still Should Be Top Priority". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ Matthews, Alan (July 2, 2007). "High School Player of the Year: Mike Moustakas". Baseball America magazine website. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Porcello leads the way on 2007 All-USA baseball team". USA Today via website. June 28, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Royals sign No. 2 overall pick 11 minutes before deadline". ESPN. Associated Press. August 16, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
  9. ↑ Official MLB.com bio MLB.com. Accessed April 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: Top 100 Prospects: 1–20". BaseballAmerica.com. February 24, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Top Prospects | MLB.com: Minors". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  12. ↑ Samuel Zuba. "Moustakas promoted to Triple-A Omaha | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Moustakas Hits 3 HR, Drives In 11 In 23–5 Rout". Wibw.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Moustakas wins Joe Bauman Award". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ Pouliot, Matthew. "Royals call up former No. 2 overall pick Mike Moustakas". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  16. ↑ Kaegel, Dick (June 11, 2011). "Royals win in Moustakas' Major League debut". MLB.com. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Royals sign four more...". KSHB-TV website. February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  18. 1 2 Kaegel, Dick Moustakas, Kottaras proud of Greek heritage MLB.com, April 11, 2013. Accessed April 28, 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Mike Moustakas Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  20. ↑ Reiper, Max (May 22, 2014). "Royals demote Mike Moustakas to Omaha". royalsreview.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Royals recall Mike Moustakas". June 1, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  22. ↑ Thornburg, Chad. "Moustakas has torn ACL, likely out for season". MLB. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  23. ↑ Kaegel, Dick (March 1, 2011). "Big-hitting Moustakas is wise beyond years". MLB.com via KC Royals official team website. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  24. ↑ http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article35113362.html
  25. 1 2 Ortz, Jorge (March 27, 2011). "Get to know: Mike Moustakas heating up for the hot corner in Kansas City". USA Today website. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  26. ↑ http://worldsportswag.com/baseball/mike-moustakas-stephanie-kinzler/
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