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Sunday, May 16, 2021

Mike Sciortino tried pitching in pros, then reverted to hitting; Saw two pro seasons


Mike Sciortino hit .462 in his final season at Central Connecticut University in 1990 and earned Sporting News first team All-America, all as a first baseman, The Berkshire Eagle wrote.

But he also pitched and, when the New York Mets came calling in that year's draft, they informed Sciortino they wanted him as a pitcher, The Eagle wrote.

"I was shocked," Sciortino told The Eagle. "When the Mets called, I said, 'All right, I'll be playing first base in the pros.' Then they told me they wanted me as a pitcher."

Sciortino tried pitching that year, but the experiment proved brief. His pro career lasted not much longer. He saw two pro seasons and played both at short-season Pittsfield.

Sciortino's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Mets in the 23rd round of the draft out of Central  Connecticut.

At Central Connecticut in March 1989, Sciortino's coach George Redman talked him up his work both as a pitcher and at first base to The Hartford Courant.

"He can do the job on the mound, he can do the job over at first and he hits the ball with authority," Redman told The Courant.

With the Mets, they assigned him to Pittsfield for 1990. As a pitcher, he got into 16 games, saved one, but had a 8.20 ERA. He also got seven at bats and picked up two hits, while also seeing time in 10 games at first base.

For 1991, the Mets returned him to Pittsfield, but not to the mound. He got into 54 games and hit .250, with 26 RBI. That season marked his last as a pro.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:3,653
Made the Majors:1,250-34.2%
Never Made Majors:2,403-65.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:521
10+ Seasons in the Minors:308

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