by Christian Tessitore
(Editor’s Note: Christian Tessitore is a 2019 graduate of SUNY Old Westbury, he signed with the Empire Pro League shortly after. He has a great story of grit and perseverance.)
Patience.
The capacity to except or tolerate delay without getting angry or upset. Not just a word or a mindset, but a lifestyle so very important in achieving what we want. My professional career may have officially began this year however, my professional mindset has been cultivated by some of the best baseball minds on Long Island for many years.
If it wasn’t for people like Glenn Mitchell I would not be anywhere near the position I have put myself in the last few months. Talking pitching within what is our circle of guys including names such as Justin Dunn and Alex Vargas has allowed me to really understand how to be a professional. My pitching coach, Glenn Mitchell, has been training me in both physical and mental aspects since the age of 10. If it wasn’t for him, I never would’ve played for Tom Caputo at Dowling. I would have never began training at Athletic Movement Protocol. If I never trained at AMP, I never would have met Mike Stella, arguably the best Manual Therapist I’ve ever been with. If I never met Mike, I never would have been on a field consistently, let alone come back from Tommy John surgery in the way that I did. Without meeting Mike and adopting the methods of he and his team I would’ve never been convinced to follow him to East Coast S&P.
East Coast S&P, and the team of Warren, Billy, Leah, has had a massive role in really giving me everything I needed to be successful this past college and pro season. The culture in that facility is unmatched. Tyler Levine who works within the facility taught me how to be my own agent, how to market myself and gave me a place to throw during the Northeast winters. As a Division III guy who had two official collegiate baseball offers out of high school, Tyler’s teachings were crucial in helping me just get a shot somewhere.
Three of my coaches during my life saw that I had something within me. Coach Mitchell was one of the first. The late Rob Oliveri, coach and founder of the Long Island Royals, was the second. He gave me the opportunity to be great and continually told me that if I wanted this I could do it. Using baseball as an outlet was something he preached to me and I understand it now more than ever. Gabby LeBron was another coach that I played for during a short span of about a month as a fill in one summer. The killer competitive mentality was always there but he helped bring it out of me. He always preached that if we played this game with no fear that it would be good to us and I am extremely appreciative of that time spent playing with him.
Once I got my first opportunity in the Empire Pro League, my goal was to listen more than I spoke and learn as much as I could. I’ve never given up nine runs (on my birthday) and felt like it was a successful day. That debut game was crucial in allowing me to find out who I was and what kind of pitcher I was. Having a short term memory and working extremely hard in between starts is what keeps one bad start from turning into a bad month and so on. Understanding what I was and what I do well allowed me to make the most of the rest of my time there and go on to win the championship game and be the Finals MVP.
Unsatisfied and wanting more I continued reaching out to teams and finally got a response from the Jackals. From there, I threw a bullpen for the team and got signed the next day. With the same simple mindset, I just wanted to learn as much as I could and do my job when my number got called. After not giving up a run my first seven innings, our manager had the trust in me to start me in a series deciding game 5 semifinal. When we won I was just happy to be there but still hungry for more. Unsure of my role in the championship series, I did my best to stay ready and I got the call to start what ended up being the clinching game of the championship series. As much as I am a perfectionist, when your team puts up eight runs, giving up four of my own was a lot easier to deal with especially when we come out with what was my 2nd Championship in one summer.
One of my teammates on the Jackals told me that I really didn’t understand what I had accomplished especially being a rookie. I faced a lineup filled with an ex-big leaguer, a few ex-AAA guys and quite a few AA and single A guys and got the job done. They took me in two days before the transaction deadline and made me feel at home. I am forever grateful for the teammates and coaches I played amongst this year with the Jackals and in the Empire Pro League. I went from being a guy struggling to find a job to pitching in 2 championship clinching games. I cannot wait to use what I’ve learned this summer to become a better player and a man.
Prior to this summer, I worked two jobs for a majority of my senior year. I still found a way to get money to pay for gas and gym memberships, car insurance, etc. I got through my practices at SUNY Old Westbury, got in the gym to lift, and also educated myself more and more on the in and outs of pitching on a daily basis. So chances are your excuses are just that. Excuses. The people who want “it” will most likely always be left wanting whatever “it” may be in life. But those who can’t live without it and are inseparable from their dreams are the ones who will run through a brick wall just to get a shot and leave the “Wanters” sitting on their couch wondering where time has gone.
This brings us back to Patience. No matter how discouraged I was with my name or number not being called I kept working. Eager to get better every day, I started to and continue to see results. When my number got called, I kept my mouth shut and my ears open eager to learn as much as I could. I waited and waited all while improving upon what I already had and trying to be the best I could be. When you get your shot be ready to run with it.
This article is less about me but more about the next guy who gets a shot somewhere. Use your time on the roster to find yourself amongst others, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and most importantly never forget who you are and be professional in all aspects of life.
Sure I was the one who worked those jobs, got in the gym on days that nobody wanted to, threw against a brick wall when nobody wanted to throw, but without the people I have mentioned, my small circle of friends, and my family I would never have gotten to this point and I would have never become the man I am becoming.
It doesn’t really matter who you are or where are you come from. What matters is your willingness to cut off the negative people in your life and listen to yourself rather than those who want to speak on your behalf. Let your hard work throughout your life and your respect for the game do the talking.
Mistakes will happen, bad days will come but how you learn from adversity and bounce back from it is the truest test a man can face. Never be content with being good enough, and try to get better every single day. I am not a finished product by any means, but what I have learned throughout the course of my first professional season will stay with me for the rest of my life
Thank you to those who continue to believe and me and thank you to those who doubt me. Every day I am driven to be better and it all helps.
