Sam Moll

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Sam Moll

|image = File:Sam Moll (36280808083) (cropped).jpg

|image_size = 230

|caption = Moll pitching for the Oakland Athletics

|team = Cincinnati Reds

|number = 50

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|1|3}}

|birth_place = Lakeland, Tennessee, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 1

|debutyear = 2017

|debutteam = Oakland Athletics

|statyear = March 31, 2025

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 7–6

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.45

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 168

|teams =

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2017}}, {{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Samuel John Moll (born January 3, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Colorado Rockies selected Moll in the third round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Oakland Athletics.

Career

=Amateur=

Moll attended St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, Tennessee. He enrolled at the University of Memphis and played college baseball for the Memphis Tigers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/may/22/former-st-benedict-and-u-of-m-pitcher-sam-moll-one-step-away-from-the-bigs/|title = Former St. Benedict, U of M Pitcher Sam Moll One Step Away from the Bigs}} In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=318344 |title=#33 Sam Moll - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}

=Colorado Rockies=

The Colorado Rockies selected Moll in the third round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://m.rockies.mlb.com/news/article/49836382|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205063457/http://m.rockies.mlb.com/news/article/49836382|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2016|title=Rockies take lefty Moll with third-round pick|work=Colorado Rockies|accessdate=February 4, 2016}} He made his professional debut with the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils,{{cite web|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/drafted-university-of-memphis-pitchers-begin-again-in-pro-ranks-ep-361610249-326695941.html|title=Drafted University of Memphis pitchers begin again in pro ranks|publisher=|accessdate=February 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-53489262|title=Colorado Rockies prospect Sam Moll a 'bulldog' on mound for Tri-City Dust Devils – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 4, 2016}} posting a 1.80 ERA in 30 innings pitched. In July, Moll combined with three other pitchers to throw a no-hitter.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-54244256|title=Colorado Rockies third-round pick Sam Moll pitches five innings in Tri-City Dust Devils' no-hitter – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 4, 2016}} He returned to Tri-City in 2014 and appeared in only nine games due to injury. In 2015, he pitched for both the High-A Modesto Nuts and the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, where he posted a combined 2.63 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched between both clubs. After the season, he pitched in the Arizona Fall League, where he gave up four earned runs in seven innings. Moll spent 2016 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he posted a 3–5 record with a 4.94 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/sam-moll-594580|title=Sam Moll Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=|access-date=November 19, 2016}} The Rockies added him to their 40-man roster after the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/18/rockies-40-man-roster-five-pitchers-promoted/|title=Rockies promote five young pitchers to 40-man roster – The Denver Post|date=November 18, 2016|publisher=|accessdate=November 19, 2016}} Moll began the 2017 season with Albuquerque, but was designated for assignment on August 11, 2017.

=Oakland Athletics=

On August 16, 2017, Moll was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.{{cite web|last=Todd|first=Jeff|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/athletics-acquire-sam-moll.html|title=Athletics Acquire Sam Moll|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 16, 2017|accessdate=August 16, 2017}} Oakland optioned him to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds upon his acquisition.

The Athletics promoted Moll to the major leagues on September 1, 2017, and he made his major league debut that night.{{cite web|last=Slusser|first=Susan|url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/A-s-call-up-Barreto-Moll-Phegley-Smolinski-12167705.php|title=A's call up Barreto, Moll; Phegley, Smolinski off DL|work=SFGate.com|date=September 1, 2017|accessdate=September 1, 2017}} In 11 games he was 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA. He was designated for assignment after the season on November 20.{{cite web|last=Todd |first=Jeff |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/athletics-designate-sam-moll-jaycob-brugman.html |title=Athletics Designate Sam Moll, Jaycob Brugman |work=mlbtraderumors.com |date=November 20, 2017|accessdate=November 20, 2017}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On November 27, 2017, Moll was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-sam-moll-claimed-by-pirates/|title=Pirates' Sam Moll: Claimed by Pirates|work=cbssports.com|date=November 27, 2017|accessdate=November 27, 2017}} After being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, the Seattle Mariners claimed Moll off waivers on November 30.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/mariners-claim-sam-moll.html|title=Mariners Claim Sam Moll|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 30, 2017|accessdate=November 30, 2017}}

On March 17, 2018, Moll was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-sign-danny-espinosa-to-minors-deal/c-268944078|title=Espinosa signs Minors deal; Moll claimed|work=MLB.com|date=March 17, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2018}} He was designated for assignment on March 29,{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/blue-jays-place-troy-tulowitzki-on-60-day-dl-designate-sam-moll.html|title=Blue Jays Place Troy Tulowitzki On 60-Day DL, Designate Sam Moll|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 29, 2018|accessdate=March 29, 2018}} and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons after clearing waivers on March 31.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BlueJaysPR/status/980176560207544320|title=Blue Jays PR on Twitter|work=Twitter|date=March 31, 2018|accessdate=March 31, 2018}} In 15 games with Buffalo, Moll logged a 1-3 record and 5.30 ERA.

=San Francisco Giants=

On December 13, 2018, in the Winter Meetings, the San Francisco Giants selected Moll from the Blue Jays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-rule-5-draft-results/c-301780782|title = 2018 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick-by-pick|website = MLB.com}} He was assigned to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels to start the 2019 season, and also pitched for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Between the two teams in 2019, he was 2-2 with 2 saves and a 2.39 ERA in 41 relief appearances covering 49 innings in which he struck out 54 batters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/sam-moll-594580|title = Sam Moll Stats, Fantasy & News}} Moll elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|accessdate=November 7, 2019}}

Moll re-signed with the Giants on a minor He contract on January 6, 2020. Moll did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2020 |title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Moll became a free agent on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On November 17, 2020, Moll signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Diamondbacks Sign Seven To Minor League Deals |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/diamondbacks-sign-seven-to-minor-league-deals.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} Moll was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2021 season. In 21 appearances with Reno, Moll recorded a 5.82 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 15 walks in 21.2 innings of work.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=moll--000sam "Sam Moll,"] Baseball Reference.

=Oakland Athletics (second stint)=

On July 2, 2021, Moll was traded to the Oakland Athletics organization in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Athletics Acquire Sam Moll From Diamondbacks |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/athletics-acquire-sam-moll-from-diamondbacks.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} The following day, Moll was selected to the active roster.{{Cite web |date=July 3, 2021 |title=A's Select Sam Moll, Designate Jordan Weems For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/as-select-sam-moll-designate-jordan-weems-for-assignment.html |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On July 17, Moll made his first appearance with Oakland in 2021, and first MLB appearance since 2017, pitching a scoreless inning against the Cleveland Indians.

=Cincinnati Reds=

On July 31, 2023, Moll was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Joe Boyle.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-a-s-acquire-rhp-joe-boyle-from-reds-for-lhp-sam-moll|title=A's acquire RHP Joe Boyle from Reds for LHP Sam Moll|website=MLB.com}}