Daniel Barone never thought he’d be in this position again.
He goes to the ballpark everyday, pitching every fifth day, dreaming about another call-up to the majors.
Whether it happens or not is immaterial; Barone can be content in the fact that’s he’s pursing his dream—again—and this time the attempt is more important than the actual result itself.
“I definitely pinch myself being at the yard everyday,” said Barone, who is pitching for the Kansas City T-Bones of the Independent League. “I didn’t think this would happen, and it’s a blessing.”
Having taken four years off from the game—the 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander last pitched in the minors for the Oakland A’s organization in 2009, two years after a late-season stint with the Florida Marlins—Barone knew he faced a long road in his comeback attempt.
Apparently, though, the 31-year-old Barone has done what Ponce de Leon could never discover—he’s found the Fountain of Youth. How else to explain after being four years away from the game, Barone was Kansas City’s opening night starter on May 5?
Or that in five starts he’s a perfect 3-0, having pitched 31 innings with 27 strikeouts while posting a solid 3.19 ERA. Turns out, the time off has done the 2001 San Benito High graduate wonders. He’s throwing harder than ever now—Barone said he throws his fastball consistently in the 86-91 mph range, compared to 84-87 previously—and his change-up and slider have a little more movement as well.
“I may be 31, but my arm has never felt better,” he said. “I definitely feel stronger than when I was playing in 2009, and for my whole career for that matter.”
Barone has also developed into a craftier pitcher in his four years away from pro ball, analyzing players’ swings and tendencies. During that time, he operated Barone’s Baseball, a batting cage and instructional baseball business that include four competitive traveling teams.
“I’ve been giving lessons and doing some coaching, so it’s not like I’ve been (totally) away from the game,” he said. “And I felt like my mechanics never left me, which made the transition easier. I think if I hadn’t been around the game at all, this would’ve been a lot tougher.”
Barone, who started to suffer an assortment of injuries starting in 2008 and lasting through ’09, first started to think about making a comeback after talking with his agent, Mike Montana, late in 2013. Barone was able to make an open tryout and throw for the Giants and Rangers at their respective spring training complexes against players from AA and AAA.
“I threw well, but no one picked me up,” Barone said. “They both suggested I play Independent ball and show I was healthy.”
From there, Montana got in contact with T-Bones manager
Massarelli, and Barone flew out to Kansas City on May 1. Four days later, he was starting the opening game of the season.
“I never thought I’d be playing Independent ball, but the competition here is way better than I expected, and the ballpark and environment is great,” he said.
Indeed, the T-Bones were second last year among all American Association teams in attendance, averaging 5,212 people per game. Independent League baseball is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, but it’s plenty competitive.
There are a number of players on MLB rosters who played Independent ball, including Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer and Angels pitcher Jered Weaver. If Barone continues to pitch well and show scouts he’s more advanced in terms of his pitching approach and repertoire, any MLB team has a right to purchase his contract.
“I’m hoping and praying (I get picked up),” he said. “This is my first time playing Independent ball, so I have no clue how this all works. I’m just going to pick up the ball every fifth day and try to help my team win. I’ll let my agent handle all that other stuff.”
Even though Barone has landed in a nice situation, playing at a first-rate facility in front of decent-sized crowds, he’s not looking forward to the team’s 14-hour bus ride to Laredo, Texas, or the 12-hour trip to Winnipeg.
Thankfully, though, technology has made a way of making long trips less painful.
“The nice thing is we have a satellite TV on our sleeper bus, and some beds, so you’re able to sleep sometimes,” he said. “I’ve got my iPad and phone working, and thank God for Pandora and all the great games you can play. But yes, I’m not going to miss the long bus rides.”
For Barone, family means everything. Before every start, Barone talks to his grandfather, Dick, who played in three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1960 season. Before he goes to sleep every night, Barone uses Tango—an app that allows free video and voice calls—to see and talk with his wife, Ashley, and their two sons, Brayden, 5, and Jase, who was born a little over four months ago.
“Braden tells me all of the Giants highlights every night,” Barone said. “I love it that he loves the game. He wakes up everyday and watches the MLB channel, and baseball runs through our blood.”
Barone was drafted by the Marlins in the 11th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft. After spending four years in the minor leagues, Barone made his MLB debut on Aug. 10, 2007. He appeared in 16 games that season, going 1-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 41 innings.
Once Barone made the decision to take some time off from the game after the 2009 season, his passion to improve never waned.
“I didn’t regret how things went, but there hasn’t been a single day that I hadn’t thought about pitching again,” he said. “I’ve never lost that feeling, the love for the game.”
If Barone never tried to make it to the majors again, he knew he would regret it. Now, even if he doesn’t get another call-up, he can take solace in the fact that he did everything he could to get back to the apex.
“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen,” Barone said. “I still get to come home to my beautiful family.”
