[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezcll2dkGA]
Nick Tropeano will be making his season debut tonight for the Los Angeles Angels tonight against the Oakland Athletics.
In his time as a minor leaguer, he compiled a 31-24 record with a 3.28 ERA. He struck out 491 in 480.1 innings. During that time he was rated the No. 18 prospect in the Astros system by Baseball America and his change up was touted as the best in the system.
On September 10, 2014 he got the call to make his Major League debut against the Seattle Mariners and he struck out five batters.
In his final start of the season, he returned home to face the New York Mets in Citi Field. but suffered the loss. Overall, he compiled a 4.57 ERA over 21.2 innings for the Astros.
This offseason he was traded to the Angels for catcher Hank Conger. With the Angels coming off a 98-win season, there was not an immediate need for a starting pitcher but he was called up when Matt Shoemaker was placed on the bereavement list.
Tropeano will get his opportunity to stick in the rotation with a strong start. His family and teammates from Long Island will certainly be pulling for him. Here’s one of his former teammates and best friends, Steve Marino, on his time with him.
Nick is THE most competitive player I’ve ever played with. All he does is compete and win. He isn’t satisfied with anything short of perfection. IT was a pleasure playing behind him. He always worked quick and threw strikes. That’s all you ask as a position player behind a pitcher. He was also a great teammate on and off the field. No surprise he’s had such success his whole career.
