Third baseman Mike Costanzo, who played at Camden two years ago, was given his first call to the major leagues Saturday when veteran third base standout Scott Rolen went on the disabled list.
While Costanzo was a second round draft choice by Philadelphia (2005), he topped out at Class AAA with both the Phillies and Baltimore, and needed a fresh start in the Atlantic League before Cincinnati signed him. He hit .278 in 16 games with the 2010 RiverSharks with four homers and 10 RBI. Now 28, the onetime Coastal Carolina University slugger was at 6-24-.303 in 34 games for Louisville, KY when Reds added him to the parent club's roster.
It has been quite a week overall for former Independent players in the major leagues starting with Stu Pomeranz's call-up and two shutout appearances for Baltimore, then followed quickly by another impressive Daniel Nava start with Boston, lefty reliever Raul Valdes joining the Phillies and Costanzo.
The action lifts the current total of onetime Indy players in the major to 17, including three who are disabled. The Atlantic League also has Jerome Williams in the starting rotation with the Los Angeles Angels one season after he was in a similar role with Lancaster plus shortstop Stephen Drew (Camden), who has been on Arizona's disabled list but likely will soon be reinstated. Angels ace Jered Weaver worked out with Camden before signing his bonus contract.
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