Pitcher Nick Raquet spent a number of years in the business field, away from professional baseball. So, when he returned to pro baseball and pitched well for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) in 2023, it might have surprised a few people.
Nevertheless, Raquet’s performance earned him an opportunity with the St. Louis Cardinals, as the organization has signed the left-hander to a contract, today York announced.
Raquet posted 13 wins with a 3.71 ERA (fourth in league) and he was third in the league with 133 strikeouts in 145.2 innings.
For his stellar performance, Raquet claimed the Atlantic League Co-Pitcher of the Year honor along with Gastonia’s Zach Mort.
Raquet’s impressive results surprised Revolution manager Rich Forney said, given his time away from the game, of course. But that has not stopped Forney from using his contacts to help Raquet obtain a chance to prove himself again.
“He had a remarkable season,” Forney said on YorkRevolution.com. “I didn’t expect that he’d throw the number of innings he did or be as dominant as he was throughout the season because he had been away from it for a while.
“I had been texting people with Major League clubs, saying if there’s an opening or a need at the Double-A or Triple-A level, bring him to spring training and let him compete for a job, because he’ll make one of those teams,” Forney continued. “He’s still young enough, he has arm speed, he was the best pitcher in MLB Partner League baseball, the best pitcher in this league for sure, by far the best left-handed pitcher in Partner League ball. And I said there’s no reason why somebody doesn’t sign him and give him a chance to compete in spring training, because he’ll beat somebody out of a job. I’m thrilled to see that he’ll now get that opportunity.”
York will host the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on Thursday, April 25th (TTBD).
— Jerry Del Priore
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 