{{short description|American baseball player (born 1980)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | image = | name = Neal Musser | position = Relief pitcher | bats = Left | throws = Left | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|25}} | birth_place = Otterbein, Indiana | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = April 21 | debutyear = 2007 | debutteam = Kansas City Royals | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = May 29 | finalyear = 2008 | finalteam = Kansas City Royals | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 0–1 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 4.21 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 19 | teams = *Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2008}}) | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's baseball}} {{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Baseball World Cup}} {{MedalGold| 2007 Tianmu | National team}} }} '''Neal Gordon Musser''' (born August 25, 1980) is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher.
==Early life== Musser was born on August 25, 1980, in Otterbein, Indiana. He spent his high school years at Benton Central Junior-Senior High School in nearby Oxford, Indiana.
==Professional career== Musser was drafted by the New York Mets in the second round (73rd overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2nd Round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1999&draft_round=2&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was signed on June 23, 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 23, 1999 |title=Leiter Sparks Mets Past Marlins |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/leiter-sparks-mets-past-marlins/ |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After spending six years in the Mets organization, he was granted free agency on October 15, 2005.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Neal Musser Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mussene01.shtml |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}</ref>
On January 30, 2006, Musser signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On May 23, 2006, he was released by the Diamondbacks.<ref name=":0" /> A day after his release, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNabb |first=Kevin |date=May 24, 2006 |title=May 24 Notes: Royals at Fresno |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-83271 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Minor League Baseball |language=en}}</ref> On October 15, 2006, he was granted free agency.<ref name=":0" /> On November 20, 2006, he re-signed with the Royals.<ref name=":0" />
Musser was optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals to begin the {{mlby|2007}} season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eskew |first=Alan |date=March 15, 2007 |title=Royals likely to go with one lefty in 'pen |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070315&content_id=1844910&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328203744/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070315&content_id=1844910&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp |archive-date=March 28, 2008 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}}</ref> He was recalled to the majors for the first time on April 20,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholl |first=Conor |date=April 20, 2007 |title=Notes: Musser gets the call to Majors |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070420&content_id=1920649&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418082714/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070420&content_id=1920649&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> and made his major league debut the next day against the Minnesota Twins, allowing two hits and an unearned run in {{Fraction|1|3}} of an inning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2007 |title=Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Box Score: April 21, 2007 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA200704210.shtml |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}</ref> After making two appearances, Musser was optioned to Omaha on April 24.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eskew |first=Alan |date=April 24, 2007 |title=Notes: Catchers continue to split time |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070424&content_id=1928001&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507110343/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070424&content_id=1928001&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=May 7, 2007 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> Overall, Musser was 0–1 with a 4.38 ERA in 17 relief appearances with Kansas City,<ref name=":0" /> and went 4–1 with eight saves and a minuscule 0.49 ERA in 32 games with Omaha.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Neal Musser Minor, Fall, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=musser001nea |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}</ref>
Musser made a single appearance for the Royals in {{mlby|2008}}, tossing a scoreless inning in a 5–1 loss to the Twins.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2008 |title=Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Box Score: May 29, 2008 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA200805290.shtml |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}}</ref> He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Omaha, going 3–5 with six saves and a 4.34 ERA in 37 games (three starts).<ref name=":1" />
On February 19, {{mlby|2009}}, Musser was designated for assignment to make way for the newly claimed Tug Hulett from the Seattle Mariners,<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2009 |title=Royals claim infielder Tug Hulett off waivers from Seattle |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090219&content_id=3850082&vkey=pr_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307113254/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090219&content_id=3850082&vkey=pr_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=March 7, 2009 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> and he was subsequently released eight days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 27, 2009 |title=Neal Musser No More - Royals Release Left-Hander |url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2009/2/27/774787/neal-musser-no-more-royals |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Royals Review |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}}</ref>
On March 5, 2009, Musser signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McTaggart |first=Brian |date=March 5, 2009 |title=Sampson takes another step; Astros sign a player |url=http://blogs.chron.com/gamedayastros/2009/03/sampson_a_step_closer_to_retur.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310022949/http://blogs.chron.com/gamedayastros/2009/03/sampson_a_step_closer_to_retur.html |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> On May 4, 2009, he was released. On February 2, 2010, Musser signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.<ref name=":0" /> He ended his career with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 2010.<ref name=":1" /> He played with multiple MiLB teams over his career, including the Gulf Coast Mets, Kingsport Mets, Capital City Bombers, St. Lucie Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Norfolk Tides, Wichita Wranglers, Omaha Royals, Arizona Royals, and the Round Rock Express.<ref name=":1" />
==Post-career== After his baseball career, Musser moved back to his hometown of Otterbein, Indiana, with a family and working on his family's farm.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=m/mussene01|brm=musser001nea|fangraphs=2727|mlb=461377|espn=28743}} * [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmussn001.htm Retrosheet]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musser, Neal}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Arizona League Royals players Category:Baseball players from Indiana Category:Binghamton Mets players Category:Brooklyn Cyclones players Category:Capital City Bombers players Category:Grand Canyon Rafters players Category:Gulf Coast Mets players Category:Kansas City Royals players Category:Kingsport Mets players Category:Lancaster Barnstormers players Category:Leones del Escogido players Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Norfolk Tides players Category:Omaha Royals players Category:People from Lafayette, Indiana Category:Round Rock Express players Category:St. Lucie Mets players Category:Team USA players Category:Tucson Sidewinders players Category:Wichita Wranglers players Category:21st-century American sportsmen