Another Mountaineer makes it to The Show

We ran a quick story in the print edition earlier this week about Darin Mastroianni, a two-season Vermont Mountaineers veteran who made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. He went 0-for-2 in the ninth spot in the order but did record a sacrifice. It's amazing to me how slim the window of opportunity can be - namely the fact that it's someone else's bad luck that becomes your good luck - in terms of making it from the minors to the majors. This is the premise behind my advisor, Marty Dobrow's, latest book, 'Knocking on Heaven's Door,' which I am once again shamelessly plugging. 

Norman James forwarded me this piece by Don Leypoldt, and I am sharing it with you. 

By Don Leypoldt

August 24, 2011

 

Former Vermont Mountaineer outfielder Darin Mastroianni became the 75^th NECBL alumnus to reach the Major Leagues today.  The Toronto Blue Jays called up Mastroianni, who batted ninth and played center field, when a roster spot became available due to their recent Aaron Hill and John McDonald trade to Arizona.

 

The product of Mount Kisco, NY played for Vermont in 2004 and 2005.  Mastroianni hit .299 during his first summer in the Green Mountain State.  He swiped 20 bases in 21 attempts in 2005, ranking second in the league by just one larceny.

 

The Blue Jays selected Mastroianni out of Southern Indiana in the 16^th round of the 2007 draft.   He was an All-Star for the High-A Florida State League in 2009 and the Double-A Eastern League in 2010.  Mastroianni had amassed nearly 200 stolen bases in his Minor League career.

 

Between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Las Vegas this season, Mastroianni hit .266 with 37 extra base hits and 28 steals at the time of his call-up.

 

Mastroianni becomes the seventh NECBL alum to debut this year.  

 

Mastroianni’s 2005 Mountaineer teammate, then-catcher David Carpenter, ironically debuted on June 30^th with the Houston Astros.  Carpenter, now a pitcher, has a 3.14 ERA in 20 games.

 

The 2005 Mountaineers are well represented in major league baseball as Mastroianni’s and Carpenter’s teammate in 2005, Rob Delaney, is now on the 40-man squad for the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

The 2005 Mountaineers were finalists in the NECBL Championship series, bowing to Newport, RI two games to one..

 

 

Pretty cool. It makes me wonder where the guys I spent all summer watching will end up in five years. I have no doubt we will see many more Mountaineers in MLB uniforms. Who will be next?

-Anna Grearson