With his goatee and sideburns, glasses, and tattoos, his manager compares Peter Moylan to 'Wild Thing,' the Charlie Sheen character in the 1989 movie, 'Major League'

"Oh, yeah, you should see him" said Jon Deeble, manager of Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic
"But, then you should see him pitch"

The right-handed Moylan, 27, who will be the Aussies' closer in the Classic, was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1996 but was released in 1999

"It was a really good experience" Moylan said
"At the time, I just didn't realize the opportunity I'd been given
I was straight out of high school and at the time playing baseball was the worst thing in the world for me
I had never had a job before and it felt like work to me, getting up every day and going to the park and working out
So it was a good experience, but it wasn't as good as it should have been"

He went back to Australia and played for several teams as both a pitcher and first baseman
But two back surgeries - shaving down the nerves on bulging discs - helped to derail his pitching career

So he became a full-time pharmaceutical sales rep, working for Geoff Pearce, vice president of the Australian Baseball Federation, and playing for local club teams

Until he gave pitching one more try last June
A recovered back and a change in his arm slot saw his fastball go from 88mph to 96mph
"I had no idea I was throwing that fast
And I have no idea why" said Moylan, who previously threw with a high arm angle but now comes at hitters with a nearly complete sidearm slot
Even his pitching coach can't explain it
"I don't think a lot of us know why" said Phil Dale, the Aussie team's pitching coach
"He got out of rookie ball with the Twins organization, and hadn't pitched professionally for seven years
He just found a slot that works for him
We've been in baseball, Jon (Deeble) and myself, a long time and we really haven't seen something like this too often
He also had a back surgery, he was working in an office, but he's been tearing it up"

Moylan - whose pitching arm is covered with tattoos, the Chinese script meaning 'Accomplish all without fear' on his bicep, and his daughter's name, 'Montana,' down the length of his forearm - is hoping he also finds a second chance in the Classic

"I loved the U.S. and my time here
I just wasted my opportunity" he said, sitting in the visitors' dugout at City of Palms Park before Sunday's exhibition game v the Boston Red Sox, in which he gave up one hit in a scoreless inning

Moylan explained his hopes for the Classic, during which the Aussies will play first-round competition in 'Pool D' v the powerhouse teams from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, as well Team Italy, which will have several Major Leaguers in its lineup

"As a team, I hope that we play the way we can and maybe we can sneak up on the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and get some wins" he said
"Personally, just to get out there and get the opportunity to pitch again and show people what I can do"

Moylan and Dale said the pitcher has already been in contact with several Major League teams - reportedly the Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Twins, and Braves - about a Minor League deal when the Classic is over, as well as with a Japanese team

The old saw goes that opportunity doesn't always knock twice
Saying he's older and wiser, the closer hopes to open the door if it does knock again
"I have regrets" he said
"But I'm glad I'm getting a second chance
And I hope this is a second chance"