Pete Parise Getting Noticed

You already know that Pete Parise went undrafted, that he played at the University of Pittsburgh, and that he was not truly a pitcher until he hit the Frontier League. But did you know that his fastball is currently hitting mid-90s and that he is developing a mean sinker and changeup? The two new pitches go great with his already powerful fastball and slider. Marlon W. Morgan of the Memphis Commercial Appeal recently talked to Pete and his pitching coach and put together a nice write-up on the young reliever. Here is an excerpt:

”I had no idea that I was going to get brought up this early,” Parise said. ”I was working pretty hard in Double-A and hoping for a late season call-up. It just kind of worked out. In baseball, you just never know.”

His storybook ride through the minors has him one stop shy of the big leagues. But it is a thought he is trying to keep in the back of his mind.

”It’s like there, but at the same time, it’s so far away,” he said. ”You try not to think about it like that.

“I just want to have a solid season, nothing crazy like trying to make it up there in a month. Just to have a solid season so that they know I can pitch at a high level.”