Mr. 1300

I recently took in a Buffalo Bisons game. For those of you unfamiliar with the Bisons they play in the International League (IL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

One thing that I am quickly learning is that the baseball world is a small one. I crossed paths  yesterday afternoon with Bisons #17, Valentino Pascucci, a familiar face playing first base. The name Pascucci does not ring a bell for most baseball fans but it sure does for me and here is why.

Pascucci who was selected in the 15^th round of the 1999 Amateur Draft by the Montreal Expos spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as a member of the Pacific Coast League Edmonton Trappers. He played in 247 games, hitting .289 with 40 home runs and driving in 177 runs during his two seasons in a Trapper uniform. Prior to the 2004 season Pascucci was ranked as the 16^th best prospect in the Expos system by Baseball America, a year that saw him play in 32 games in the Majors with the Expos where he hit.177 with 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in during his only time in the Majors to date. The now thirty two year old Pascucci has appeared in 1300 minor league games where he has hit .274 with 228 home runs and 830 runs batted in (not including two seasons spent playing overseas in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League). He has made stops in the minor league systems of the Expos, Marlins, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres and Mets (twice), playing for eleven different minor league teams along the way.   

You always hear stories about life in the minors and I am sure that Pascucci has more than a few to share from his 13 year playing career, one that has had its fill of highs (such as making his Major League debut April 26, 2004 against the Padres, picking up his 1^st hit April 30, 2004 against the Dodgers) and lows (being released and having to find a new team more then once). If one thing can be learned from Pascucci it is the value of persistence. In life things do not go always go according to plan. It is important to take each day in stride and enjoy the journey and the ride, regardless of where it takes us. I for one hope that Pascucci gets to step into the batter’s box at the Major League level again even if it is only for a short time just so we remember not to give up on our dreams but rather make the most of the various opportunities that come our way.   

Pascucci is currently hitting .271 with 15 home runs and 70 runs batted in 90 games so far this season.