Former San Benito pitcher Daniel Barone has made two Major
League starts for the Florida Marlins this year
Daniel Barone sat in the clubhouse last week at Triple-A Albuquerque, awaiting for some sort of news.
Media reports had been swirling about the starting pitcher’s future that week. All he knew was that he’d pitch on Friday, Aug. 10 against Triple-A Nashville, or he’d be called up for Saturday, Aug. 11 to pitch against the New York Mets.
Quite a big difference when you think about it.
“The (Albuquerque) manager called me in and said we’ve got to talk about the hitters for Friday,” Barone recalled. “I was preparing for a Friday night start against Nashville or a Saturday night start against the Mets.
“He said, ‘We’ll, we’re gonna play Nashville, but you’re gonna pitch against the Mets.’ I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ It was awesome … I’ve been dreaming since then. Just crazy.”
Barone, 24, was called up to the Florida Marlins on Wednesday, Aug. 8. He started on the mound against the Mets that Friday at Shea Stadium in New York, against one of the most powerful lineups not only in the National League, but in all of Major League Baseball.
And the 2001 San Benito High School graduate said he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I love the way it happened,” he said. “I love pitching in front of a big crowd and I love a challenge. My main goal was to throw my first pitch a strike. If I can throw my first pitch a strike, I can get through the rest of the game. And thank God I threw my first pitch a strike.”
Barone emerged from the dugout in New York in front of 48,516 fans at Shea Stadium, and did one better than throw a first-pitch strike to Mets leadoff hitter Jose Reyes.
He struck Reyes out.
“That was unbelievable,” Barone said. “He’s such a great hitter … I think he was feeling me out. I got that first-pitch strike and it worked out my way.”
Barone pitched 4 and 2-3 innings against the Mets, scattered five hits, allowed three runs – two earned – four walks and struck out four batters.
All of the runs Barone allowed came in the fifth inning off a three-run homer to Carlos Beltran.
“I watched it over and over and over – probably 30 times,” Barone said of the Beltran homer. “I keep kicking myself, but it’s going to happen and it’s not going to be the last one.”
Barone, after compiling a 7-0 record at Albuquerque, which tied a franchise record with seven consecutive wins, has been thrown into the proverbial fire since coming up to the majors.
He received a no-decision last Friday in his Major League debut against the Mets (67-53), who occupy first place in the NL East, and he battled the Arizona Diamondbacks (69-53) on Thursday night, who own first place in the NL West.
Needless to say, his first two opponents were no slouches. “They’re throwing me some good games here,” he said.
Barone, however, received the first loss of his career after throwing four innings against the D-Backs. He allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits. He also struck out two and walked two.
But the 6-foot-2 205-pound righty says he’ll be back to the area in late September when the season wraps up, providing pitching lessons as he’s done in the past.
Barone thanked everyone in the area as well for the support. “It means a lot to me,” he added.
Now that he’s reached his goal of making it to The Show, though, Barone was asked what his next goal was.
“To stay in The Show,” he laughed, “and never return to the minor leagues.”
