Joe Serrapica has thus far taken advantage of the opportunity the Tampa Bay Rays have given him.
The right-handed pitcher via Manalapan High School was drafted by the Rays in the Major League Baseball draft in June. Although he had a year of eligibility remaining at Fordham University, Serrapica said at the time that he always wanted to play in the major leagues, and the Rays gave him a real opportunity he was not going to waste.
The Rays sent Serrapica to their Singe A Affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades, in Wappinger Falls, New York.
The Renegades turned the former Brave with the lively fastball into a closer, and he has been lights-out in his new role. He has not allowed a run in 12 relief appearances covering 17.1 innings pitched. He’s a perfect 6 for 6 in save opportunities and has a 1-0 record to go with his astonishing 0.00 ERA. The six saves are the league co-leader.
Serrapica’s 96 m.p.h. fastball has overpowered hitters. He has struck out 21 hitters in those 17.1 innings of work out of the bullpen. Opponents are only hitting .135 against him.
Serrapica was so effective as a closer that he was named to the North squad for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game played at the Renegades’ Dutchess Stadium. He was one of seven Renegades named to the North team.
Hudson Valley sits atop the McNamara Division with a 32-22 record.The Staten Island Yankees (32-23), the Brooklyn Cyclones (30-26) and Aberdeen Ironbirds (24-31) make up the McNamara Division with the Renegades.