Astros select Ivy’s top hitter in MLB draft
By: Justin Feil
Sal Iacono climbs the next step in his dream today.
That’s when the Princeton University graduate reports to the Tri-City Valley Cats of the New York-Penn League. The Cats are the Short Season A ball affiliate of the Houston Astros, who selected Iacono in the 26th round one week ago.
"It’s pretty nice to be about three hours from home," said the Staten Island, N.Y. native. "I’ll be pretty close to home which is great."
And fitting since his family played a big part in making his draft day an exciting time. Iacono spent much of last Friday waiting to see when he would be selected. It finally came with the 801st pick of the draft.
"Between me and my brother and the rest of my family, we spent the day staring at a computer screen," Iacono said. "I wasn’t looking at it when my name came up. My brother was. I heard a scream from another room. I figured that was it."
Rob Iacono, who attends Fordham University, was watching as the Astros selected his older brother. Sal is the 14th Princeton player taken in the Major League Baseball draft in the last decade.
"I thought I had a good enough season to have a shot," said Iacono, who led the Tigers with a .413 average, and was tops in the Ivy League with a .453 average. "I’ve been talking to a few scouts. One was from Astros. So I had hoped to be picked, but there’s nothing official until your name goes up on the computer. I was definitely nervous about it. It’s something you’ve been working for it your whole life. When I saw it up there, it was a big relief."
Iacono must credit his family for some of that hard work as well. Iacono hit for a career-high .278 as a junior, the third straight season in which his batting average had increased. But without hitting even .300, he knew his major league chances weren’t good. So Iacono had to devote more time to hitting and it paid off with a dramatic increase in average. He also led Princeton in hits, doubles and RBIs. His .413 average is the third-highest single season mark in program history.
"I would say, one, the confidence that comes from playing so many years in the league and getting so many at bats (helped)," Iacono said. "I changed my swing a little with my coach. And then, the extra work I did with my dad. I was practicing with the team, and then my father would come down and throw (batting practice). So it was mechanical and more experience that helped."
Iacono’s father, John, never played college baseball, but he was a big supporter of his son’s dream. All those pitches from dad helped Sal to his best year at the plate since he batted over .500 in his last three years of high school.
"It was pretty great," said Sal, the oldest of four children of John and Linda. "I live about 40 minutes from school. It really got me fine-tuned for the season. It was a couple times a week.
"I was having decent seasons, not that great," he added, "and if I had another one of those, it wouldn’t prove I could move on and play at the next level. Having this season showed I’m capable of playing at the next level."
Iacono had come on at the end of his junior year. He had three hits and four RBIs against Harvard in the Ivy League Championship Series. He homered against Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament. This season, he proved to be an even tougher out.
"The last couple years, you can put in a lot of work and you don’t see results," Iacono said. "It was nice to put in the work, and it was nice to see it. I changed my approach at the plate.
"Just getting the right pitch to hit rather than trying to make too much happen. Becoming more patient. When you get a good pitch, you have to go for that one."
Iacono’s hitting was just one feature that made him attractive to the Astros. He also had interest from the Yankees, whom he worked out for during the week leading up to the draft.
"I had a high average," he said. "That’s always a plus. Another thing was I can play a bunch of different positions. I play catcher, some third base and some second base. They’re able to throw me out at any position to help me get playing time.
"This year, I played mostly third base. I only had five games at catcher. Last year, I split games, half at third, half at catcher last year. Whatever gets me on the field and in the batters box."
Iacono is the first Princeton player selected in two seasons. Will Venable and Worth Lumry were chosen in 2005. Eleven total Tigers players are playing professionally.
"Definitely being drafted is the way to go," Iacono said. "That’s the ultimate goal. You can always sign if you don’t get picked, but the ultimate goal is to get drafted. The position you get drafted doesn’t matter as much. As long as you get a shot and get a chance to compete, that’s all that matters.
"It is a dream the whole time. You have to believe in it. I struggled the first couple years. I felt I could turn it around and figure this thing out. I never stopped believing I could do it. In the last year I started to figure it out. I thought if I finished real strong, it was a possibility."
Since finishing the Ivy League season, Iacono has been keeping his skills sharp by running, throwing and hitting. Today, he gets to start showing off those skills for the Astros organization.
"I’ve heard a lot of good things about the organization from some of the other guys in the organization," he said. "They’re very professional. My experience has been great."
As excited as he is to get going, Iacono can’t help but look ahead a bit, to the final three-game series of his first professional season, Sept. 5-7, at Staten Island where those major league dreams began.
"I’m really excited there will be a whole bunch of people I know there cheering for me," Iacono said. "I don’t think there will be extra pressure. I’m just excited about it. I get to come back to Staten Island."
He will do so as a professional baseball player.

