# Neal Musser
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{{short description|American baseball player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| image =
| name = Neal Musser
| position = [Relief pitcher](/source/Relief_pitcher)
| bats = Left
| throws = Left
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|25}}
| birth_place = [Otterbein, Indiana](/source/Otterbein%2C_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](/source/Win_(baseball))
| stat1value = 0–1
| stat2label = [Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
| stat2value = 4.21
| stat3label = [Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s
| stat3value = 19
| teams = *[Kansas City Royals](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2008}})
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's [baseball](/source/baseball)}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[Baseball World Cup](/source/Baseball_World_Cup)}}
{{MedalGold| [2007 Tianmu](/source/2007_Baseball_World_Cup) | [National team](/source/United_States_national_baseball_team)}}
}}
'''Neal Gordon Musser''' (born August 25, 1980) is a former [American](/source/United_States) [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher).
==Early life==
Musser was born on August 25, 1980, in [Otterbein, Indiana](/source/Otterbein%2C_Indiana). He spent his high school years at [Benton Central Junior-Senior High School](/source/Benton_Central_Junior-Senior_High_School) in nearby [Oxford, Indiana](/source/Oxford%2C_Indiana).
==Professional career==
Musser was drafted by the [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets) in the second round (73rd overall) of the [1999 Major League Baseball draft](/source/1999_Major_League_Baseball_draft).[{{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](/source/Baseball_Reference) |language=en}}] He was signed on June 23, 1999.[{{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](/source/CBS_News) |language=en-US |agency=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press)}}] After spending six years in the Mets organization, he was granted free agency on October 15, 2005.[{{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](/source/Baseball_Reference) |language=en}}]
On January 30, 2006, Musser signed as a free agent with the [Arizona Diamondbacks](/source/Arizona_Diamondbacks). On May 23, 2006, he was released by the Diamondbacks.[{{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](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) |language=en}}] On October 15, 2006, he was granted free agency.[{{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](/source/MLB.com) |publisher=[MLB Advanced Media](/source/MLB_Advanced_Media)}}] He was recalled to the majors for the first time on April 20,[{{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](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) |publisher=[MLB.com](/source/MLB.com)}}] and made his major league debut the next day against the [Minnesota Twins](/source/Minnesota_Twins), allowing two hits and an unearned run in {{Fraction|1|3}} of an inning.[{{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](/source/Baseball_Reference) |language=en}}] After making two appearances, Musser was optioned to Omaha on April 24.[{{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](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) |publisher=[MLB.com](/source/MLB.com)}}] Overall, Musser was 0–1 with a 4.38 [ERA](/source/Earned_run_average) in 17 relief appearances with Kansas City,[{{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](/source/Baseball_Reference) |language=en}}]
Musser made a single appearance for the Royals in {{mlby|2008}}, tossing a scoreless inning in a 5–1 loss to the Twins.[{{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](/source/Baseball_Reference) |language=en}}] 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).[{{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](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) |publisher=[MLB.com](/source/MLB.com)}}] and he was subsequently released eight days later.[{{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](/source/SB_Nation) |language=en}}]
On March 5, 2009, Musser signed a minor league deal with the [Houston Astros](/source/Houston_Astros).[{{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](/source/Houston_Chronicle)}}] On May 4, 2009, he was released. On February 2, 2010, Musser signed as a free agent with the [New York Mets](/source/New_York_Mets).