Despite being part of an organization on the other side of the country, Gabe Mosser always thought he would come back home to the Lehigh Valley.

Recently, Mosser got his chance.

The former Parkland High School and Shippensburg University product inked a minor league deal with the Phillies, and his likely assignment will be with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs this spring.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Mosser. “It will be like high school all over again. I will be around family for a change. I had a good season last year, and I had a few offers. Once the Phillies’ offer came, it was tough to turn down.”

Mosser, who has been with the Padres organization since he was drafted in 2018, pitched for the Class AAA El Paso Chihuahuas this past summer. He set career highs in games (28), starts (26) and innings pitched (131). Mosser also posted a career-high seven wins (7-7, 5.40 ERA).

However, the road back home hasn’t been an easy one.

Since 2019, Mosser has been hampered by a UCL strain and had to endure Tommy John surgery. He lost his 2020 season to COVID.

“I only have pitched really two full seasons since then,” he said. “In 2019, I had the UCL staring and I had it again in 2021. I had Tommy John surgery in 2022, and came back for a half season last year.”

Through his injuries and frustrations, Mosser endured his share of dark days. He credits the constant support of his wife Haley and his family.

“They have kept me going, and they are always have been supportive,” he stressed. “I thought at times that I might be done with it, but they and I realized my love for the game.”

Mosser confirmed that he is now totally healthy.

Mosser throws a sinker, sweeper, and a splitter in his arsenal. In his 440 career innings, he has 409 strikeouts.

“I feel good and I am throwing well,” said Mosser. “My sinker typically gets me out of jams. My sweeper can be a good strikeout pitch, and my splitter has been working well.”

Mosser will be throwing three days a week to build up his pitch count before spring training.

Kurt Weber, his former head coach at Parkland, is happy for his former hurler.

“We are all thrilled for Gabe to come home and play in the Phillies organization,” said Weber. “Since he has turned pro, the closest he has been was Ft. Wayne, Indiana and that was early on. It will be great for him to be close to his wife, family and biggest supporters and it will be great for us to see him throw in person versus watching late night streams of games from the west coast.”

Weber also realized Mosser’s bumpy road to back home.

“I am particularly happy that his hard work fighting through adversity has paid off with this opportunity,” said Weber. “He was impacted multiple years with an elbow issue. Trying to tough it out and pitch through it, then being shut down and having surgery to correct it, and then rehab and recovery. This year, two seasons since his surgery, he seemed more like himself. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is even stronger this year.”

Mosser will be back in familiar surroundings this spring, being back on the mound at Coca-Cola Park. He recalled how his team won the district championship there in 2014.

“We would play there once a year, and also in districts,” said Mosser. “Now, I will have the chance for plenty of more starts there.”