Former Haybaler finishes off first year in pro ball
The long bus rides and brown-bag meals are over for another season.
Former San Benito grad Daniel Barone, picked in the 11th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft, had the chance to begin living out a dream this year.
Barone returned to Hollister from New York on Sept. 12 after his first professional season with the Florida Marlins Single A club, the Jamestown Jammers.
“It was brutal the last month with the humidity,” Barone said. “But it was a great experience – a dream come true. Getting the experience was the biggest thing. Since I got the first year under my belt, next year will be a lot more confident now that I know what to expect.”
Barone finished fourth on the team in home runs given up, but he also finished with the third most innings on the staff.
“Toward the end of the season, there were a lot of sore arms,” Barone said. “They took advantage of me, but I didn’t mind. I could throw every day if they needed.”
Many of Barone’s home runs were solo shots, and the most damage was done in the first half of the season as Barone got adjusted to life in the minors.
During the last month of the season, he brought his ERA down to 5.08.
“I was spotting everything” Barone said. “I really didn’t miss my spots much. I felt more relaxed, and I felt really confident in myself. We started seeing teams for the second time, so I knew their tendencies.”
Barone made two starts during the season, but he was primarily used a long reliever.
“I like starting more than relieving,” Barone said. “But I have to wait and see what happens. As of now, they want to keep me in long relief.”
Barone said he enjoyed the experience of being around the other players and was able to learn some things from them.
“It was a great group of guys,” Barone said. “The coach said he had never seen a team get along so well.”
During the offseason, when he’s not busy working with his uncle or making deliveries for Cupertino Electric, he plans to maintain an extensive training program. He said his goal was to gain upper body strength and work a lot on his legs.
Barone plans to start the workout recommended by the team when he receives the information next month. He plans to workout before work and then run in the evenings.
Because teams usually don’t send first-year players to fall or winter ball, Barone said he won’t be playing organized baseball in the offseason.
With the amount of innings he threw both at Sonoma State and in New York, he said the team didn’t want him to become overworked. He would like to throw at Sonoma State during some of the inter-squad games if possible.
He is staying with his parents in Hollister but plans to move in with his girl friend, Ashley Araiza, in a couple weeks.
Barone, who reports to spring training on March 8, wants to offer pitching lessons for younger baseball players. Anyone interested can call him at 637-1179.
