Vermont Mountaineers
Playing Professional Baseball
Montpelier, Vt. – More than a dozen former members of the
Vermont Mountaineers baseball team are playing professional
baseball across the country. Hard work and persistence has
paid off for several players who were given promotions after
stellar performances last season.
Chris Blazek (04), was promoted from the Salem Avalanche in
the Class A+ Carolina League, and is now pitching for the
Corpus Christi Hooks of the tough AA Texas League. Blazek,
the property of the Houston Astros, appeared in 50 games for
Salem last season. He went 4-2 with eight saves and a 4.07
ERA and was undefeated in his final 16 appearances.
Rob Delaney (05) was promoted by the Minnesota Twins to the
Ft. Myers Miracle of the Advanced A Florida State League
form the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League. Rob
was promoted after he was selected by MiLB.com as the Class
A Reliever of the Year last year. His stats were very
impressive: a league-record of 28 saves, an ERA of 0.77 in
46.2 innings pitched, striking out 56 batters while walking
only six in 36 appearances and holding the opposition
batting average to just .152.
Darin Mastroianni, the Mountaineers’ flashy second baseman
in 2004 and ’05, is now patrolling the outfield for the
Lansing Lug Nuts of the Class A Midwest League. He was
promoted by the Toronto Blue Jays after hitting at a .287
clip, including three home runs, for the Auburn Doubledays
of the Short A New York/Penn League last year.
Dan Merklinger (05), who was with the Helena Brewers of the
Rookie Pioneer League last year, was promoted by the
Milwaukee Brewers to the West Virginia Power of the Class A
South Atlantic League after he finished second in the
Pioneer League with a SO/9IP of 13.17 by a reliever.
Matt Rizzotti, the first baseman and power hitter of the
2005 Mountaineers is now playing for the Lakewood Blue Claws
of the Class A South Atlantic League after a successful ’07
season with the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Short A New
York/Penn League.
Other former Mountaineers who are signed to play
professional baseball at the Class A level this season
include: Joe Billick (04) at Idaho Falls Chuckars; Blake
Lalli (04) at Peoria Chiefs; Anthony Smith (04) at Missoula
Osprey; Matt Smith (04) at Bakersville Blaze; Joe Esposito
(06) at Aberdeen Iron Birds; Josh Santerre (04) at Arizona
League Royals; Kevin Brophy (05/06) at Princeton Devil Rays;
and Jim Wladyka (04) at Burlington Bees.
Three former Mountaineers are playing professional baseball
in the independent leagues. Jud Thigpen, one of the original
Mountaineers in 2003 is with the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am
League. Robbie Minor (04/05/06) is playing for the Gateway
Grizzlies of the Frontier League. Bryan Rembisz (06) is also
playing in the Frontier League for the Traverse City Beach
Bums.
There are two other former Mountaineers who are working
their way up the professional baseball ladder. Tim Hagerty,
the original radio broadcast voice of the Vermont
Mountaineers in 2003, has moved from the Double-A Mobile
(Alabama) Bay Bears to the Triple-A Portland (Oregon)
Beavers. And, Jon Barr, the radio voice of the Mountaineers
in 2006, will return for a second season behind the
microphone for the play-by-play of the El Paso, Texas,
Diablos of the independent American Association.
