Spartan Nation’s Nolan Moody Signs Minor League Contract With Tigers

East Lansing native will report to Lakeland, Fla., on Sunday.

Former Michigan State pitcher Nolan Moody has signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. Moody will report to the organization’s rookie ball team, the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Tigers, on Sunday in Lakeland, Fla.

“It feels great - I’m really excited and can’t wait to get going,” said Moody. “I thought after the draft that I was probably done playing,” Moody said. “Getting a chance to keep playing is quite a thrill, especially for the Tigers. I’m excited to get down there.”

Moody, one of the Spartans’ tri-captains this season, was named the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher. In his first season as a starter, he went 6-5 and tied for second on the team in strikeouts with 57.

His most memorable moment as a Spartan, as well as one of the best performances in program history, came on April 4 of this year when he threw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Northwestern in the first game at the new McLane Baseball Stadium.

I thought after the draft that I was probably done playing,” Moody said. “Getting a chance to keep playing is quite a thrill, especially for the Tigers. I’m excited to get down there.”

Moody began and finished the 2009 season as the Spartans’ No. 1 starter. In his first-career start on Feb. 20, he went 7.0 innings and allowed just two runs to give MSU its first win of the year and first for MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. as a Spartan.

The East Lansing native posted a career-high nine strikeouts and limited Penn State to just four hits and one run in 8.0 innings of work on May 1 in a 12-1 Spartans’ win.

Moody hopes to take the mound on Monday (July 6) when the GCL Tigers visit the GCL Braves.