In his first home at-bat playing for the Lakewood BlueClaws, 2003 Penn graduate Nick Italiano smashed a triple off the top of the wall, igniting a two-run rally that led to a 12-2 victory.
After a successful season with the Gulf Coast Phillies, where he batted .349, Italiano was promoted to Lakewood to play in the final seven games of the season. He appeared in one game at second base and two games as the designated hitter.
Italiano is one of four members of the 2003 Penn baseball team to spend this past summer playing in the minor leagues.
Senior Russ Brocato and 2003 graduates Ben Krantz and Andrew McCreery were selected in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, while Italiano signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies.
"A few months ago I thought my baseball career was over after not being drafted," Italiano said. "To play in the Gulf Coast League, then move up to Lakewood, it's definitely an experience I'll never forget."
While many of the players selected in the draft were recent high school graduates, Penn's quartet has a few more years of experience under its belt, each having played at least three years of college baseball.
"Over the last two years, there have been more college players drafted because teams are finding that high schoolers take a lot of time to be ready to play at a higher level," Penn coach Bob Seddon said.
But with this experience and age comes the added pressure of having to make an immediate impact and move swiftly through the minors.
"When you come out of college, you need to move fairly quickly, but you don't want to be pushed too fast," Seddon said.
So far, Italiano and Brocato appear to be on the right track.
Brocato had arguably the best season of all the Penn graduates. Pitching for the Gulf Coast Orioles, he posted a 2.41 earned run average and 30 strikeouts in 52 and one-third innings.
"He has a shot at A-ball [this spring] rather than continue in the Rookie League," Seddon said.
While Brocato returns this fall to the University to complete his degree, his baseball career in a Penn uniform ended when he signed with the Orioles.
"It was a big blow to the team to lose Brocato," Seddon said. "We lost a lot from last year, but it will be a challenge."
Krantz finished the season with a 6.25 ERA for the Missoula Osprey -- the Arizona Diamonbacks' Rookie League team. In 44 and two-thirds innings, he fanned 32, but gave up 31 earned runs.
"Krantz had some decent outings," Seddon said. "He did OK."
McCreery played alongside Krantz for Missoula, batting .280 with four home runs and 13 runs batted in.
The former Ivy League Player of the Year appeared in only 42 games, however. He was placed on the disabled list Aug. 5 with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which, according to Seddon, will require surgery.
"McCreery played very well," Seddon said. "He played hurt for a week and that may be why his stats dropped."
After completing the season, Italiano will continue training for his next opportunity in the spring.
"I'm going to go home and stay in Virginia," Italiano said. "I'll try to stay in shape and then in March head out to spring training."
Depending on his performance in spring training, Italiano will be assigned to one of the Phillies' minor league teams, Lakewood manager Buddy Biancalana noted.
"I don't see how Italiano could not play A-ball in the spring," Seddon said. "He proved he was above the Gulf Coast League.
"There is hardly a player at Lakewood batting .240," Seddon added. "Nick could hit .240 with his eyes closed and one arm behind his back."
"Nick can definitely swing the bat," Biancalana said. "I see some things he can work on defensively, though."
Seddon disagrees.
"[Biancalana] does not know much about Nick," Seddon said. "He will make all the plays.
"The problem is that Italiano is not a big guy, he doesn't look like he can play," Seddon said. "But he wears on you, you just have to see him play."
