Quinn Feno got picked by Red Sox, saw two pro seasons
Quinn Feno helped his New Bedford High School team to the state title game in 1990. Then he turned pro, The Boston Globe wrote.
Feno signed with the Red Sox the day after his high school team's season ended that June, The Globe wrote.
"I'm very happy and excited," Feno told The Globe then. "I've dreamed about being drafted since I was a little kid and getting chosen by the Red Sox was like the icing on the cake."
Feno then started his pro career. His career, though, was slowed by a knee injury. He played in just two seasons.
Feno's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Red Sox in the 14th round of the draft out of New Bedford. Feno was also credited as Vinny Feno.
Ahead of the draft, Feno spoke to The Globe about his approach, having worked with former Red Sox hitting instructor Walt Hriniak at a hitting school three years earlier.
"I started out a little slow (the following season), but then midway through the season it just seemed to click and I really started hitting the ball hard," Feno told The Globe.
Feno started with the Red Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 26 games and hit .169.
He then lost all of 1991 to a knee injury, but returned for 1992 at short-season Elmira.
He spoke to The Elmira Star-Gazette that August about how he got the name Vinny. It was somehow related to his manager calling him "Finny" because of his last name, and teammates thinking he was Italian.
"The next thing you know I'm being introduced (by the public address announcer) as Vinny before home games," Feno told The Star-Gazette in a story focused on his sense of humor. "I'm even listed as Vinny in one of the Red Sox programs. I'm Portuguese! Do I look Italian?"
Feno saw 45 total games with Elmira that year. He hit .207, with one home run. That season marked his last as a pro.
- Boston Globe, May 8, 1990: Feno a follower of the Hriniak school
- Boston Globe, June 18, 1990: Feno signs with Sox
- Elmira Star-Gazette, Aug. 23, 1992: Feno the class clown for the Pioneers
Made the Majors:1,481-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,178-68.2%-X