On June 6 in Chatham, Massachusetts, Mark Bordonaro was driving to practice with the Chatham Anglers, the Cape Cod Baseball League team, when his phone suddenly rang. Bordonaro’s life was forever changed.
Around 2 p.m., he received the call from New York announcing that he had been selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. After months of discussing logistics with 29 teams, there were 12 teams seriously interested in Bordonaro on the first day of the draft. By the second day, he had his hopes set on at least four different teams. As soon as he hung up the phone later that day, family and friends following the draft immediately called with congratulations.
“My first reaction was Seattle is a long way away,” explained Bordonaro. “I was happy either way though, because I knew it was a good organization to get picked by.”
With 84 games in 86 days, this right-handed pitcher’s summer was unlike most. As the 2012 spring school semester and baseball season came to a close, Bordonaro headed up to Massachusetts to play in a summer league. After only about two weeks though, he was off to the west coast for the first time to train with the Everett AquaSox, the Short-A affiliate of the Mariners in the Northwest League.
Playing with the AquaSox was a completely new experience compared to his three years with the Fairfield Stags. “It is my job now,” said Bordonaro. “I enjoyed going to the field every day at Fairfield knowing I was going to see my friends. Playing professional baseball is more like being at work.”
Each summer morning, Bordanaro arrived at the field at 10:30. With workouts, practices and individual meetings with coaches, every day was intense. These long days were followed by 7 p.m. games.
Although Bordonaro can no longer play for the stags, he decided to return to Fairfield for his senior year. Studying Marketing and Management, Bordonaro admits that when he “has to get a real job one day,” he is interested in pursuing some form of television advertising.
While Bordonaro significantly contributed to the Fairfield baseball program the past three years, he also recognizes what Fairfield has done for him. “It’s nice going to a small school like this because everyone is so supportive, so I’m happy I can to a school like this,” said Bordonaro.
Former teammates from Fairfield baseball expressed their excitement for Bordonaro. “It’s been a pleasure catching him for the last three years and watching him put in the hard work to make it to the next level,” said catcher Mike Bennett ‘13.
Infielder Rob LoPinto ’14 added, “With the athletic ability, motivation and drive he possesses, along with professional coaching, Mark has a chance to be a dominant pitcher in the big leagues.”
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