EL PASO, Texas — Early on in his baseball career, Cory Mazzoni may have felt comfortable in the middle infield.

He would soon find out, however, that he was born to be on the mound.

“I played for the Beaver Valley Baseball Club when I was a kid,” said Mazzoni, a 2008 Seneca Valley High School graduate. “I always wanted to play shortstop. At that point, I was the fifth or sixth best pitcher on the team.

“But as I got older, my arm got stronger and I figured I'd stick with pitching.”

Mazzoni first took the mound for SV's varsity team as a freshman in 2005.

“I remember that game, it was against North Hills,” he said. “I was definitely nervous, but didn't feel overwhelmed.”

Over the next three seasons, it was opposing hitters who felt overwhelmed by Mazzoni's arsenal of pitches, led by a dominant fastball. From his sophomore through his senior seasons, he compiled a 22-4 record with an ERA under two.

He was 11-0 with 96 strikeouts in 78 innings in leading the Raiders to the Quad A state championship in 2007.

Mazzoni will be inducted into the Seneca Valley Sports Hall of Fame Saturday.

Currently a relief pitcher with El Paso, the San Diego Padres' Triple-A affiliate, Mazzoni had a chance to enter professional ball out of high school. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 26th round just after the conclusion of his senior season.

“I had already signed to play in college at North Carolina State,” said Mazzoni. “It was tempting, though, because I liked the idea of just playing baseball. But I decided to go to college and it proved to be the best decision I ever made. I was really skinny in high school, but put on 30 pounds in college and made a huge improvement with my pitching.”

In Mazzoni's three years of college baseball, he tallied a 14-14 record and left Raleigh with the seventh-most strikeouts in program history (256).

The reason he left college early was because pro baseball came calling once again and this time, he was ready for it. He was selected by the New York Mets in the second round in 2011.

“I was alone at my apartment on draft day, talking on the phone with my agent about what teams may take me,” Mazzoni said. “I get that call (from the Mets) and it was very exciting, very surreal.”

Mazzoni was used mostly as a starting pitcher in the Mets' farm system. His best season there was 2012 when he went 10-6 with a 3.93 ERA between A and Double-A.

He was traded to the Padres at the end of spring training in 2015. Less than a month later, he realized a life-long dream when he was called up to the Major Leagues.

“My first game was against Houston. We were behind by a good bit late and I came in for the ninth inning,” said Mazzoni. “I remember giving up a two-run homer to Colby Rasmus. But just pitching in a major league game for the first time, it's something I'll never forget.”

Mazzoni ended up logging 8 2/3 innings pitched in eight appearances for San Diego and struggled, allowing 20 earned runs on 23 hits with eight strikeouts and five walks.

“It was very humbling,” he said, “but I did not feel overmatched. I know I can pitch at that level, I just didn't perform well.”

Mazzoni is in the process of working his way back to the big leagues. He had surgery on his right shoulder in April 2016 and began this season on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Rookie League. He was promoted to El Paso in late July and has since been dominant, striking out 31 and walking just three in 20 1/3 innings for the Chihuahuas. He sports a 0.89 ERA in 14 appearances.

“Things are going really well and I love being in San Diego's organization,” he said. “The players have been great and the rehab program is second to none.

“Coming off shoulder surgery, I'm looking to just give my arm a rest over the fall and winter. But I'll make sure to stay in shape.”

Mazzoni, a native of Evans City, is not sure whether or not he will be able to attend the hall of fame inductions Saturday.

“I'm very thankful for it and I hope to be there,” he said.