BC’s Suozzi inks deal with Mets
Cut as a freshman, outfielder was a co-captain as a senior
College baseball players were left with few options as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCAA closed shop in mid-March, the Cape Cod Baseball League took a similar action seven weeks later while Major League Baseball, in a cost-cutting measure, reduced its 2020 draft from 40 to five rounds.
That perfect storm comes at a time when MLB teams have shuttered their instructional programs and reduced minor league paychecks to $400 per week.
Boston College outfielder
Joe Suozzi found his promised land in the darkness of the coronavirus on Monday night when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Mets.
“There is really nothing you can do and at BC we talk about controlling the controllables and this is like the definition of that,” said Suozzi, during a Zoom conference call on Tuesday afternoon.
“You can’t do anything about it so I just try and stay busy. I just achieved a lifetime goal playing with the Mets so that’s nice but it’s a little bittersweet. Obviously, I’m so excited to play for the Mets organization but it stinks how it ended at BC.”
The NCAA has awarded fourth-year players another season of eligibility but Suozzi, who had earned his degree in economics, knew it was time to move on. Getting the call on Sunday night from Mets area scout John Kosciak removed any thoughts of returning for a fifth season at the Heights.
“I think leading up to it that it was a really tough decision because I had an idea it was going to happen with another team and obviously, I loved Boston College so much,” said Suozzi.
“Coach (Mike) Gambino really helped me out so much and when coach Gambino said he thought it was the best decision for me, I really respected that. It was the best thing I could do. The fact that it was the Mets was just the cherry on top.”
Suozzi is a native of Glen Cove, New York, and a dyed-in-the-wool Mets fan. Suozzi attended Mets games as a youth, his favorite player was third baseman David Wright and he has a set of seats from old Shea Stadium in his family home.
“My best piece of memorabilia is definitely my Shea Stadium seats that I have downstairs and I should have sat in them right now,” said Suozzi. “They are actually the seats we sat in during the 2006 playoffs.”
Suozzi attempted to walk on at BC as a freshman but, after a fair assessment, could not crack the roster. Following a summer lifeguarding and playing slowpitch softball on Long Island, Suozzi earned a roster spot as a sophomore. He was named an Eagles cocaptain as a senior.
As a junior, Suozzi hit .282 with a .432 slugging percentage and a .363 onbase percentage. He capped the campaign by being named to the ACC All
Tournament team.
He played in 15 games this season that included a 14-game hitting streak, the sixth-longest in program history. He led the team in RBI (16) and runs scored (14) before the NCAA cancelled spring sports.
“I would classify myself as a real competitive player and when I’m competitive and not afraid to fail I play my best,” said Suozzi. “I think I can hit for power and hopefully as my career keeps going, I will hit for more power.
“But right now, I think I’m a pretty good contact hitter than can hit for power.”