Making a Major leap
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Seneca Valley graduate and right-handed pitcher Cory Mazzoni has been called up by the San Diego Padres.
Mazzoni, 25, had been pitching out of the bullpern for Class AAA El Paso, recording 13 strikeouts and only one walk in his first six appearances this season. He was sporting a 1.08 earned run average.
Mazzoni received the news late Saturday night and flew to San Diego immediately. He was there in time for the Padres’ home game Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not pitch.
The Padres are at home against Houston tonight.
“I had to wake up my parents and girlfriend on the East Coast ... It was like 2:00 in the morning there,” Mazzoni told padres.com. “This hasn’t sunk in. I haven’t even stepped outside yet.”
San Diego had overtaxed its bullpen over the weekend and was in need of a fresh arm. The Padres sent left-hander Chris Rearick to El Paso to make room for Mazzoni.
“We needed an arm and Cory was throwing the best at El Paso,” Padres manager Bud Black told the website.
The Padres acquired Mazzoni from the New York Mets in March for pitcher Alex Torres. A second-round pick by New York in 2011, Mazzoni was threatening to make the big club out of spring training last year when he suffered a triceps injury.
He returned to pitch in Triple-A for New York, but was never called up to the major league club. Mazzoni’s first appearance with the Padres will be his major league debut.
Mazzoni’s fastball has been hitting 95 miles per hour with regularity in El Paso.
Black recognized the pitcher’s abilities during spring training this year.
“This guy’s been coming fast,” the manager said.
Though he has been used exclusively out of the bullpen this season, the Padres’ manager did not rule out Mazzoni becoming a starter at the major league level.
“Nothing is etched in stone,” Black said, adding that Mazzoni has an impressive repertoire of pitches.
Mazzoni has a 24-12 career record in five minor league seasons, sporting a 4.02 ERA. He has 284 strikeouts and 79 walks in 308 career innings pitched.
He was drafted in the 26th round by the Washington Nationals out of high school, but opted for a scholarship to North Carolina State University out of high school.
Mazzoni becomes the first Seneca Valley player — and Butler County athlete — to reach the major leagues since left-hander Zach Jackson pitched for Milwaukee and Cleveland from 2006-09.
