BIOGRAPHY
Mike Moustakas was born September 11, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. He is a second baseman in the MLB.
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. Moustakas was also selected to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team in 2007. He was offered a scholarship to USC, but turned it down and decided to enter the 2007 MLB draft.
Moustakas had his contract purchased by Kansas City on June 9, 2011. 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. 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.
Moustakas tore through the 2014 Playoffs, hitting 5 home runs, 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.
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. On May 15 against the Yankees, he went 4-for-5 with a homer shy for hitting for the cycle. 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 won the World Series against the New York Mets to win the franchise's first world championship in 30 years.
Moustakas was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Brett Phillips and Jorge López. With the Brewers, he batted .256/.326/.441. Moustakas hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning of NLDS Game 1 vs the Colorado Rockies, giving the Brewers a 3–2 win and a 1–0 series lead.
On December 5, 2019, Moustakas signed a 4-year, $64 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, the largest free agent deal in Reds history.
Moustakas hit his 200th career home run on July 10, 2022. Moustakas played in 78 games for Cincinnati in 2022, posting a .214/.295/.345 batting line with 7 home runs and 25 RBI. The Reds designated Moustakas for assignment on December 22, 2022 following the signing of Curt Casali. He was released on January 5, 2023.
On March 5, 2023, Moustakas signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization. On March 25, the Rockies announced Moustakas had made the Opening Day roster after hitting .367/.387/.700 with two home runs in 31 plate appearances during spring training. He was formally selected to the 40-man roster the same day.
