Wassong gets the call
Former St. Peter’s Prep and FDU hurler signs with Toronto Blue Jays
Mike Wassong started to believe that his chance to become a professional baseball player had passed him by. After some promising workouts for the Phillies, Marlins and Blue Jays in May, the former St. Peter’s Prep and Fairleigh Dickinson University pitcher was not drafted in the Major League Baseball first-year player amateur draft in June.
"Even after the draft, I still kept hope," Wassong said. "I was willing to wait it out."
After two weeks, FDU coach Dennis Sasso called Wassong and told him about tryouts for an independent team, the Albany Diamond Dogs, which were taking place in Allentown, Pa.
"I was willing to do anything," Wassong said.
So the Jersey City resident packed his bags and went to Pennsylvania for a tryout with the Albany team. The 5-foot-8 left-handed pitcher must have impressed them, because he was signed to a contract with the Diamond Dogs to face the New Jersey Jackals in a weekend three-game set.
"I figured it was a start," Wassong said. "I was all set to stay with Albany for a while."
Wassong pitched all of one and two-thirds innings for the Diamond Dogs against the Jackals at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls. He struck out two and didn’t allow a hit.
"That was my career," Wassong said.
Because soon after that performance, Wassong received a call from the East Coast scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.
"They said they were signing me and sending me to Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada, to pitch for their Rookie League team," Wassong said. "The scout told me to get ready for long bus trips. I don’t mind. I’m getting a chance to pitch for a major league organization."
Wassong said that the Blue Jays gave him a small signing bonus.
"Who am I to complain?" Wassong laughed. "They could have given me a dollar and I would have been there."
On Monday morning, Wassong capped the most bizarre week of his life by boarding a plane in Newark and setting his sights towards the major leagues. Of course, he’s going to have to work his way through the minors first, with the first port of call known as Medicine Hat.
"It’s going to take like 14 hours and three flights to get there, but I don’t mind," Wassong said.
Incredibly, because he signed a contract with the Diamond Dogs, the Blue Jays had to first purchase his contract from Albany for the robust sum of $3,000. That will make for some fine story if Wassong ever makes it to the majors.
"I had to call Mike Marshall [the former Mets and Dodgers outfielder, who manages Albany] to tell him that I was signing with Toronto, and he told me to wait," Wassong said. "My independent contract had to be bought out first. I didn’t even get a dime for playing for Albany, but I’ve cost them $3,000."
Wassong will join two other New Jersey pitchers on the Medicine Hat pitching staff, namely Ryan Costello, formerly of Montclair State, and Chris Neylan, who pitched at Steinert High School in West Windsor. Both Costello and Neylan were drafted. As a free agent, Wassong has a tougher road.
"I don’t know what role they have for me," Wassong said. "I heard like they might have a left-handed set-up role, long relief, like the way the Yankees use Mike Stanton," Wassong said. "I don’t care. Whatever it takes to help me keep moving up, I’ll do it. There aren’t that many lefties in the organization, so if I do well, I’ll have a chance to move up."
Either way, Wassong is very happy to be spending his summer in Canada rather than Jersey City.
"Don’t get me wrong," Wassong said. "I love Jersey City and always will. But at this point in my life, I’d rather be in Medicine Hat. I may change my mind when I get there, but that’s the way I feel now."
Wassong has overcome the obstacles to become Prep’s first major league professional product in over 30 years.
"I didn’t even think of that," said Wassong, when told he was the first St. Peter’s Prep grad to play pro baseball in over 30 years. "It sends chills down my spine just thinking of it. It’s a great honor.
Added Wassong, "Thank God I’m getting this chance. It just proves that if you work hard and keep the faith that good things will eventually come. All the things I had against me. People told me that I couldn’t make it because I was short, that I was 5-8. That’s the reason why I got overlooked all those times. It’s a relief, that’s what it is, that someone is giving me the chance. Now, it’s my turn to make them look good."