On June 15th, the Boston College graduate and Glen Cove, Long Island native signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent.
Joe Suozzi became one of the six players the Mets inked to deals outside of the MLB draft, which was shortened to five rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic.
His path to signing his first professional baseball contract is something out of a movie.
As a sophomore at Chaminade High School, Suozzi was already facing an uphill climb when it came to his baseball career.
After a solid freshman campaign for the Flyers, Suozzi saw his production drop, and he knew exactly why.
“On the freshman team I hit around.500. Everyone was around or the same size as me, maybe I was a little bit smaller than some, but I never really thought about it.”
“In my sophomore year, I hit around .250 on the JV team and a big part of that is that I wasn’t developed yet,” Suozzi explained.
It was also a rough summer of baseball for him on the travel circuit; “that’s when I really saw it, I knew I was not growing into my body as fast as some, but I never gave up.”
Growing pains are normal for any teenager, but what isn’t normal is hearing a “pop” in your elbow.
During a scrimmage with his travel team in the fall of his junior year, Suozzi heard something pop in his elbow and he knew immediately, it was bad.
“My elbow was bothering me before I even started playing, but I dealt with it just thinking it was sore — but when I went to go throw the ball in, I heard a pop right away and I ran off the field…”
Suozzi continued, “I dropped my glove, walked right into the dugout and I thought it was all over right there, I thought I needed Tommy John.”
Fortunately he didn’t tear his UCL, but the fact that Suozzi was underdeveloped at 16 cam into play.
“My doctor told me the bone popped off my elbow, which was a relief. However the doctor also told me that this injury occurs in 12 to 13 year-olds, and I was 16 at the time.”
Suozzi explained the extent of his elbow injury. He was able to rehab it throughout the fall and winter, leading up to his first tryout for Chaminade’s varsity baseball team.
But, it was not the result he wanted, not in the slightest. The right-handed hitting outfielder got cut within the first round of them. Suozzi was crushed.
“I was excited about what that team could be too. That senior class was great and I wanted to play with my friends from my grade too.”
“Just like everyone, I wanted to play varsity baseball. It was one of the most defeating things ever.”
Suozzi ultimately made the team his senior season, and won the Most Improved Player award that year.
He decided to attend Boston College without any recruitment from them, and without much interest from any college programs in general.
However, he never gave up on baseball.
“I talked to my family, and my dad said that if I didn’t at least try to walk on, I would regret it for the rest of my life…the worst they could do is say no” (regarding Suozzis’ decision to try to walk-on at Boston College).
When he got to tryouts his Freshman year, he was petrified.
Suozzi spoke to Coach Gambino via email to gauge his interest in having someone tryout for the team, and although the roster was almost set, Suozzi was given his first break.
“Coach told me there is a slim chance of making the team, but I wanted to try out anyway. I am so grateful to (coach) Gambino for that opportunity,” said Suozzi when he described what the tryout process was like.
Although he ended up not making the team his freshman year, Coach Gambino was impressed with the work ethic and talent Suozzi brought during the fall season.
He ultimately let the freshman lift and work out with the team until the official start date of the Division I baseball season, as per the NCAA guidelines.
Suozzi came back to Glen Cove, worked as a lifeguard, and played for a slow pitch softball team while getting ready for his next opportunity to try out. There was no quit in him.
Going into the fall of his sophomore year, he knew he had a shot to make the roster, but found out that it would come at the expense of another injury.
During the fall, Suozzi was tied for the lead in RBI’s during BC’s “fall World Series”, when he slid into second base and felt his shoulder dislocate.
“I knew my shoulder was out. I told the trainer to just put it back in and I was going to keep playing, but they actually thought I broke my collar bone, so I had to sit out for a while.”
“But when I dislocated my shoulder, I also tore my labrum,” Suozzi said while describing his injury.
Just when he felt like he was a step closer, he took multiple steps back. Or so he thought.
At the last practice of the fall, coach Gambino was addressing the team, and he was going through who was having surgery and when they would be returning.
The team was listening to Gambino’s speech when he got to Suozzi, who was standing there in a sling when coach said, “Joe is going in to have his shoulder fixed tomorrow, and when he comes back, he’ll be wearing number 30” and the team went crazy.
Suozzi was elated; “I couldn’t believe it. I had tears in my eyes. Coach Gambino was in my corner the whole time, like he told me in the past. He is taking a chance on a hurt player and giving him a roster spot.”
From getting cut, to playing slow pitch softball, to being a Division I athlete — Suozzi knew he was going to get to live his dream, but he was not satisfied.
A few days after his surgery, the newest member of the Boston College baseball team met with Coach Gambino after surgery, and received congratulations for making the team.
They were discussing how Suozzi could make an impact on the team, and not settling for just a roster spot.
Suozzi told his coach, “no disrespect, but I just know I am going to work my way into the starting line up and play every day.”
Although that was a big goal to have, one Gambino probably had heard before, Suozzi meant it.
He played during parts of that year, and started during the most of his junior year. He made the ACC All- tournament team as a Junior, where he went 7-12.
Suozzi was named captain prior to his Senior season, and was on a tear hitting .414 in 15 games before the coronavirus pandemic ended his season.
Not only does Suozzi have an amazing collegiate baseball story, he has an even closer connection to the Mets.
Suozzi grew up a half hour away from Shea Stadium, attending multiple games each year. As a young kid, Shea Stadium is where he knew he wanted to play baseball.
“The New York Mets made me love baseball. The way they carried themselves, their intensity, I fell in love with baseball thanks mainly to the Mets.”
Suozzi’s bedroom is covered with Mets memorabilia, featuring pictures of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Pete Alonso, and even a pair of orange seats from the 100’s level of Shea Stadium.
Suozzi and the New York Mets have a connection that goes way before signing a contract.
The Long-Island native is very excited to get going, whenever that might be.
When asked what type of player the Mets are getting, he said; “A really competitive person, I want to win. If I am doing this, I am going to try to keep rising up the ranks.”
“I’m not just happy with being in the Mets organization, just like I wasn’t just happy with making the Boston College baseball team.”
Through a lot of adversity, Suozzi never gave up, never quit, and kept pushing when he could have easily packed it in and called it quits.
He is a perfect example of what a person can accomplish when you set your mind to something.
Against all odds, Suozzi is a New York Met.
