Matt de Salvo - Baseball Career

Baseball Career

DeSalvo graduated from Union Area High School located in New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1998.

DeSalvo graduated from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio with a bachelor's degree in environmental science in 2003. He holds the NCAA Division III record for career wins (53), strikeouts in a season (205), and strikeouts in a career (603.) His records for career wins and career strikeouts are NCAA All-Division records.

During the summer, DeSalvo was an All-League player for the Delaware Cows of the Great Lakes League, He also played for the Danbury Westerners of the NECBL (New England Collegiate Baseball League.)

DeSalvo was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2003.

In 2005, he posted a 9-5 record and a 17.02 ERA in 24 starts with the Trenton Thunder.

In 2006, his control deserted him, as he averaged 15 and 7.9 walks per 9 innings in, respectively, 78 innings at Trenton and 38.2 innings at Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

In the minor leagues from 2003–06, he averaged 7 hits, 5 walks, and 8 strikeouts per 9 innings. On January 26, 2007, DeSalvo was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on February 1.

At spring training for the Yankees in 2007, his pitching turned heads. "I was in shock, that's how filthy his was" Jason Giambi said. "How can another team not take him when he was off the roster?" Larry Bowa asked.

DeSalvo made his major league debut for the Yankees on May 7, against the Seattle Mariners. He pitched 7 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 run, but received a no decision in the Yankees' 3-2 loss.

On May 13, 2007, DeSalvo got his first MLB win against the Mariners. He went 6.2 innings with 2 strikeouts, while only giving up 7 hits and 2 runs.

On January 5, 2008, he signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. On August 15, he was called up from the Richmond Braves to replace Tom Glavine on the Braves roster, and was briefly used in the bullpen before being sent back down on August 23. DeSalvo was released on September 4 after refusing an outright assignment to the minors.

On January 29, 2009, he signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He was released by the Mets on April 4. On May 25, DeSalvo was signed to a minor league deal by the Tampa Bay Rays. On August 12, 2009 DeSalvo was released by the Tampa Bay Rays. On August 15, 2009, DeSalvo signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. On May 3, 2010, DeSalvo was released by the Florida Marlins.

On August 15, 2010, he signed and was activated by the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League. He started that same day against the Lancaster Barnstormers. He pitched 5 innings, striking out 7 and giving up 6 earned runs. He was the winning pitcher thanks to a 18 run outburst by the York team.

On February 10, 2011, he signed a contract with the York Revolution. Despite being injured for much of the second half, he finished the season third in the Atlantic League in strikeouts with 108 and fourth in ERA at 3.89. He returned to pitch an inning in the final regular season game. He then pitched in both the divisional series win against Lancaster and the championship series win vs. Long Island. He was on the mound when the final out was recorded.