Peter Moylan once arrived in Richmond as an unknown Australian reliever with a rebuilt career and a revived fastball. On Thursday, June 12, he’ll return as a celebrated major league veteran, signing autographs and throwing the ceremonial first pitch where part of his improbable journey took shape — The Diamond.

  

The former Richmond Braves pitcher will be the featured guest during the Flying Squirrels’ “2000s Night,” part of the team’s “Diamond Through the Decades” series honoring 40 years of baseball at The Diamond and 15 seasons of Flying Squirrels baseball. Moylan, who pitched in parts of two seasons with the R-Braves and later spent 12 seasons in the majors with Atlanta, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Dodgers, will meet fans on the main concourse from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. following his first-pitch appearance.

“Of all the players who have come through The Diamond in the ballpark’s 40-year history, Peter Moylan’s story is arguably one of the best,” Flying Squirrels General Manager Anthony Oppermann said. “Richmond was part of his journey to a prolonged major league career, and we’re excited to welcome him back.”

Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1996, Moylan stepped away from the game for several years, working as a pharmaceutical sales rep and managing a club team in Australia. When injuries sidelined pitchers on his team, Moylan returned to the mound and saw his fastball velocity climb to the mid-90s.

That late-career boost earned him a spot on Australia’s roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic, where his performance against Venezuela caught the attention of major league scouts.

He signed with the Braves that year, nine years after his last appearance in affiliated ball. After a brief stop in Richmond, Moylan made his MLB debut in April 2006, pitching a scoreless inning against the Phillies. He returned to the R-Braves later that season and again in 2007 before earning a full-time spot in the Atlanta bullpen.

In his big league career, Moylan became a fan favorite, going 24-10 with a 3.10 ERA across 399 appearances. He has since worked as a coach, broadcaster and podcaster.

The June 12 game also includes a diamond ring giveaway for the first 2,000 fans, courtesy of Dominion Energy. The Flying Squirrels will wear special “Richmond Professional Baseball” jerseys, honoring the franchise’s early days before the Flying Squirrels name was adopted in 2009.