St. John's University Athletics
Varvaro Called Up To Major Leagues By Seattle Mariners
9/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 22, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. - Former St. John's baseball standout Anthony Varvaro has been called up to the Major Leagues by the Seattle Mariners. Varvaro began the 2010 season with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Double-A Southern League before a July promotion to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League.
The righty, who was named to the 40-man MLB roster in November, was 1-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 31 appearances this season for the Diamond Jaxx. The reliever also racked up 46 strikeouts in 39.1 innings and limited the opposition to just a .194 average before his promotion to Tacoma. In 19 appearances for the Rainiers, the righty was 0-0 with a 5.26 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 25.2 innings of work. The Rainiers went on to sweep the Memphis Redbirds in a best-of-five series to win the Pacific Coast League championship.
Varvaro is the third St. John's player to reach the Major League after playing for head coach Ed Blankmeyer. Rob Delaney became the second player after being called up by the Minnesota Twins earlier this month on Sept. 3. The first player was Craig Hansen, a first round draft pick in 2005 that made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox and has made a combined 95 Major League appearances for the Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.
"Anthony has endured a lot in his baseball career and he deserves to be pitching in the Major Leagues," said Blankmeyer. "For us to have two guys called up this season says a lot about not only the players, but our program as well."
"I couldn't be happier for Anthony or more proud," added pitching coach Scott Brown. "He has really persevered through a lot and has worked hard to get this well-deserved opportunity."
Varvaro underwent surgery on his right elbow after being drafted in the 12th round in 2005. The righty made his professional debut in 2006 with the Rookie League AZL Mariners and went 0-2 with a 1.64 ERA in five appearances, including three starts.
The following season, the righty went 4-11 with a 4.69 ERA in 22 games, including 21 starts, for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class-A Midwest League. Varvaro had 112 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .233 average in 103.2 innings of work.
Varvaro spent the 2008 season with the Class-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks and was 3-9 with a 7.12 in 30 appearances, including 24 starts. The righty added 113 strikeouts in 122.2 innings of work.
The righty began the 2009 season with High Desert and posted four saves and 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work before a promotion to West Tenn. Varvaro went 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 36 appearances for the Diamond Jaxx. The reliever added 63 strikeouts in 54.1 innings and held opponents to a .163 average.