In the past year, 2003 Penn graduate Nick Italiano has been fortunate to receive several opportunities. And he has made sure to capitalize on each and every one.
Around this time last year, Italiano's dream of pursuing a professional baseball career appeared to be fading.
Italiano had just finished a remarkable career at Penn, capped off by a senior year in which he batted a team-high .371 with 30 runs scored and 28 RBIs. But he was not one of the three Penn players drafted by a major league baseball team.
As he prepared to make alternate plans, a phone call came from Philadelphia Phillies scout Gene Schall, who asked Italiano to play in their minor league system. The next day, he boarded a plane heading to Clearwater, Fla., to play for the Gulf Coast League Phillies.
Any disappointment he may have felt after not being drafted quickly dissipated. All Italiano wanted was a chance to prove himself, and the Phillies provided him with just that.
"I feel lucky to have gotten an opportunity to play," he said. "The most important thing is just getting the opportunity."
Italiano currently plays for the Lakewood Blueclaws, a Single-A team in the Phillies organization.
Prior to joining Lakewood, Italiano played for the Gulf Coast Phillies, and led the team with a .349 batting average, 28 runs and 21 RBI.
The former All-Ivy player was then assigned to extended spring training for this past season.
But again, another opportunity arose for Italiano. After Clearwater Thrashers infielder Sean Walsh was promoted to Reading, there was a spot open on the Thrashers' roster. Italiano was more than happy to fill it.
A late addition to the 2004 roster, Italiano struggled at Clearwater - a stronger Single-A team than Lakewood - batting under .200. On May 3, he was sent back to Lakewood, where he continues to play now.
"It was a rollercoaster year for me," Italiano said.
The former District II Verizon Academic All-American continues to enjoy the ride, despite whatever obstacles he faces along the way.
"Clearwater was a step up from Lakewood," he said. "The pitching was much more consistent."
"Pitchers threw harder and more strikes, so they always got ahead in the count."
Since leaving Clearwater to join Lakewood, Italiano has seen considerable playing time, partly due to several injuries on the team. In 28 games, Italiano is batting .280 with 17 runs and 10 RBI.
Penn coach Bob Seddon noted that Italiano is performing the best of the four Penn players from last year that signed with major league teams.
And while Italiano's playing time may decrease in the near future, the former Quakers star will surely take advantage of any opportunities that come his way.
"Some guys are coming back from injuries soon, so I may see less time," he said. "But I'll keep working hard, and try to help the team in whatever way possible. I try to improve every day."
Penn's trio of players selected in the 2003 MLB draft - pitchers Ben Krantz and Russ Brocato, along with outfielder Andrew McCreery - have also performed well in their rookie seasons.
Krantz, drafted along with McCreery into the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, is a starting pitcher for the Single-A Missoula Osprey. In two starts this season, Krantz (0-0) has 5 strikeouts and a 5.40 Earned Run Average. Krantz began the season as a reliever, and was promoted to the starting rotation after solid performances out of the bullpen.
McCreery played alongside Krantz in Missoula, before being transferred to another Single-A team, the South Bend Silver Hawks. In 18 games this season with South Bend, McCreery put up uncharacteristic numbers, batting just .140. His lone homerun of the season - a grand slam - came May 26th against the Battle Creek Yankees. On June 10, the Lone Hawks announced that McCreery had retired after having been with the Diamondbacks organization for nearly over a year.
Brocato had a successful 2003 campaign. He made seven starts in 13 games with the Gulf Coast Orioles, allowing only one run in 9.1 innings in his first four appearances. He was named Gulf Coast League Pitcher of the Week on August 2, after he won two starts and allowed zero runs in 11.2 innings. Brocato currently pitches for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a Single-A team within the Baltimore Orioles organization.
