Mazzoni back on the hill
PEORIA, Ariz. — Opposing hitters consist of new draft picks, high-school age players, younger Dominicans, guys on rehab assignments.
That's life as a pitcher in the Arizona Rookie League.
And Cory Mazzoni is happy to be there.
The 27-year-old Seneca Valley graduate and right-hander in the San Diego Padres' system has been on a rehab assignment of his own the past few weeks.
“It feels great just being on the mound pitching again,” Mazzoni said. “This has been such a long process.”
Mazzoni underwent major shoulder surgery in April of 2016. His first rehab appearance in the rookie league was June 30 of this year.
“Pitchers come back from Tommy John (elbow) surgery every bit as good, if not stronger than ever,” Mazzoni said. “The labrum is a different story. I had three anchors put in my shoulder to stabilize everything. I had things floating around in there.
“The odds of a pitcher bouncing back from that type of operation aren't very good. That's tough to deal with mentally. But things are looking good right now.
“The Padres have an outstanding rehab program and I'm reaping the benefits from that,” Mazzoni added.
He's made six appearances in the rookie league thus far, throwing seven innings. Mazzoni has compiled 13 strikeouts, walked no one and permitted only five hits.
“They have me throwing an inning each outing, though one time, I worked two innings,” he said. “My fastball hit 97 (miles per hour) my last time out. That's the hardest I've ever thrown.
“I've been hitting 94 to 96 on a regular basis. That's where I was at pre-surgery, so I'm happy with that.”
After the surgery, Mazzoni wasn't permitted to throw a baseball at all for six months. It took eight months before he could toss from a mound.
“It was delicate surgery, so it's been delicate rehab,” he said.
Now Mazzoni — originally a second-round MLB draft pick — feels like he's back.
Once he had the surgery, Mazzoni was taken off the Padres' 40-man roster. For him to be assigned to a minor league team in the organization, he would have to be placed back on.
“It could be any week, any day now,” Mazzoni said of such a move being made. “I'm ready to face Class AA or AAA hitters again. I'm anxious to do that.”
A starting pitcher throughout his high school, collegiate and most of his professional career, Mazzoni's future appears to be as a hard-throwing short-inning reliever.
He made 53 starts out of 99 minor league appearances in his career, striking out 330 in 342.2 innings and compiling a 26-15 record with a 3.99 earned run average. During a brief stint in the big leagues with San Diego in 2015, Mazzoni surrendered 23 hits in 8.2 innings, striking out eight, walking five and sporting a 20.77 ERA.
“Things didn't go well for me ... I don't even think I was totally healthy then,” Mazzoni said. “My shoulder started bothering me in 2015.
“Other than getting my knee cleaned out a couple of times, I've never been injured playing baseball, certainly no problems with my arm. I wasn't sure how to read that situation with my shoulder then.”
Now his shoulder's fine, his fastball's popping and he's anxious to prove himself.
“I know I can pitch up there,” Mazzoni said of the major leagues. “I know I can. I want to show people who have doubts about me.
“I know I'm not a prospect anymore. But I've still got time to have a solid career and that's what I'm aiming for.”
