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Trip Through The
Wires.
Memphis Redbird Pitcher Jason Simontacchi Goes From Independent League To
Italy To The Big Leagues.
5/06/02 - The number of players who have departed independent leagues and then played in the big leagues is a small one. The number of players who have played in the Italian League and then in the big leagues is also very small.
The number of players
who have done both is precisely one. That one is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Jason Simontacchi. He was recalled from Memphis this week after a strong start
(4-1, 2.25).
To say his odyssey to
St. Louis has been interesting would be an understatement. The 28-year-old
Californian was drafted by Kansas City in 1996 but was released after two
years. He spent 1998 in the Frontier League before moving to the Pirates organization
in 1999.
Then came the most interesting
twist of all. A team in the Italian League, based solely on his surname, called
him and offered him a position with their team. His Italian League efforts
also led to a spot on the 2000 Italian Summer Olympic baseball team.
The Italian experience
brought him back to North America where he spent 2001 with the Edmonton Trappers
(7-13, 5.34). Based on what he did in Edmonton and in winter league play in
Venezuela, he earned an AAA contract in Memphis.
That stay in Memphis lasted just a month before he made his ML debut May 4 and beat the Atlanta Braves.
