Casey Delgado heard it all.
Too short.
Doesn't throw hard enough.
Doesn't look the part.
After an outstanding two-year career for Austin Peay State University's baseball team that included 18 career wins (seventh all-time) and a program-record 105 strikeouts during the storied 2013 season, Delgado went undrafted during the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He latched on with the Frontier Greys of the independent Frontier League before spending the last two seasons with the FL's Traverse City Beach Bums.
In 2014, Delgado went 7-6 with the Beach Bums, striking out 118 in 116.1 innings pitched, earning a nod as a Frontier League All-Star. And he was two appearances into another season with Traverse City when he got the call.
THE Call. From the New York Mets, needing some pitching help in Savannah, their Class-A affiliate. The call every ballplayer waits on.
"It's pretty shocking to get that call," Delgado said. "I've been waiting for that call since I was in high school. I was speechless when I got it."
His pitching coach at Traverse City, Greg Cadaret, spent 11 seasons bouncing around the big leagues with eight different organizations. In his time working with Delgado, he helped the righty get the most out of his motion.
Clearly, something clicked along the way.
"He's been making me think about the pitches I'm going to be throwing in certain counts to keep hitters off balance," Delgado said.
There are ups and downs in independent ball, the same as in all baseball. When a player is constantly fighting for a look, there can be pressure to make every outing the best one. According to Delgado, being able to withstand the tough times is just as important as having a good blend of pitches.
"There's always adversity," he said. "I have just as many bad games as the next guy, it's just a matter of bouncing back the next time and having a short memory."
Players come and go in the Frontier League; current Governors assistant coach Greg Bachman chose that as his home during his independent ball because the league's age limit (27 years old) gets more scouts out to the ballpark. And oftentimes, there's neither rhyme nor reason to why a player gets signed on with a big-league organization.
"It's usually about what the teams are looking for, what they need," Delgado said. "Baseball doesn't usually make sense, but that's the fun part."
The Mets needed Delgado and already in his short time with Savannah, the Florida-bred has made a mark. In his first outing with the Sand Gnats, last Thursday, he tossed four innings of long relief for the win against Charleston, striking out seven batters along the way. Hopefully, that's just the beginning for Delgado.
"I came out of the bullpen first, and I think I'll have another outing before they ease me into the rotation," he said.
Through his time in independent ball, doubts are sure to have crept into his thoughts. But someone saw something in him, enough to offer him a shot at the big leagues. And while he hasn't made it yet – "No, but it's a step in the right direction," he says when I broach that topic with him – he's closer than he was a week ago.
One of the nice things to come out of his situation – other than joining a big-league organization, obviously – is hearing from coaches and former teammates.
"It's been really nice to hear some of the things my teammates and coaches have said about me," Delgado said. "I've noticed over the past couple of years that people aren't always quick to give somebody a compliment for doing good or working hard on a day-to-day basis and having this happen to me, some really nice things have come out from everybody."
So what's next for Delgado? Adding a new pitch? Continuing to smooth out his mechanics? What will help him get to the next stage in his professional career?
It's simpler than that.
"I need to get as many outs as I can without giving up too many runs," he said. "I can't think about who's watching me. All I can do is keep my team in it; the rest takes care of itself."
