Former All-American Tyler Badamo working his way back pic.twitter.com/PKZvMPkb3v
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 30, 2018
Command has never been an issue for Tyler Badamo.
During his four-year minor league career, he has walked only 48 batters over 261.0 IP. That is a rate of 1.6/9 IP. Last season, he issued only 7 free passes over 70.2 IP, reaching as high as Triple-A with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Unfortunately, the velocity–which sat 91-93 MPH with an occasional 94 during his historic All-American season with Dowling College in 2014–has since faded. With the average fastball velocity in the game of baseball now up to 92 MPH, teams come to expect those numbers on the radar gun. His career, which was budding with the New York Mets through the middle part of the 2016, is now hanging in the balance because of it. After suffering a herniated disc towards the end of that season, those 94s have not shown up on the radar gun.
The story is not uncommon around the game of baseball. Injuries happen and teams make business decisions, however, life has centered around baseball for the Mount Sinai native and with two young children and a wife at home, life is at a crossroads after he was released by the Diamondbacks and is currently a free agent.
Fortunately, facing adversity has also never been an issue for Badamo, either.
As a senior at Mount Sinai HS in 2010, he lost his father unexpectedly. He also became a father that year. Life has thrown him challenges already and he has answered the bell each time thanks to his work ethic and abilities on the mound.
Watching his bullpen yesterday, it was clear he has no plans on waving the white flag. He fired a sharp bullpen to his personal catcher, but with Spring Training right around the corner and no team to play for, the frustration has set in.
“If a Cy Young winner like Jake Arrieta is still a free agent with two weeks before Spring Training, how are we supposed to get jobs?” he stated.
Talented players with professional experience all around the country are in the same conundrum. Teams are increasingly relying on their home grown talent and unwilling to sign players to big money contracts.
For Badamo, the decision is not just a baseball one but a life decision.
“It’s not like I’m living at home with mom, I have to pay rent and provide for my wife and kids,” he said. Badamo noted that he does have standing offers to play in the Atlantic League but the is focused on playing affiliated baseball.
If no Major League team comes calling, there’s also another option.
“I’ve considered playing internationally either in the Korean or Taiwan League. They pay good money, but it’s just tough to get in,” he said. Being that he has accrued Triple-A service time, he does have a legitimate chance of getting the call.
In the meantime, the Dowling grad is working on increasing his velocity while maintaining the command that has enabled him to pitch four professional seasons. He is giving pitching lessons as well to save up money for the baseball season.
He’s not panicking yet, but the free agent RHP understands the current situation he is in. While he might be down, he is not out. If we’ve learned anything about him in the past, he’s not somebody willing to give up easily.
