Spartan Draftees Ready for Professional Baseball

TAMPA, Fla. - After three long, anticipated days, 1,215 selections, and numerous hopeful prospects, the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft has come to a close. For the 13th consecutive season, UT Baseball has had at least one player selected to the MLB Draft, but this year was different. The quintessential childhood dream of becoming a professional athlete soon became reality for five Tampa Spartans. Within two weeks of being crowned the 2015 Division II Baseball National Champions in Cary N.C., the excitement only got better.

"Players come here to graduate from a private institution, win national championships and have a chance to play professional baseball. We accomplished a lot this year with a team GPA of 3.0 and winning our seventh national championship and now five more players drafted. This says a lot for the state of our program," head coach Joe Urso stated.

Senior shortstop Giovanny Alfonzo was the first to go for UT after being selected in the 21st round by the Miami Marlins. The Florida State transfer was a two-year starter for the Spartans, hitting at .344 in 52 games while being named to the NCAA South Regional and Championships all-tournament teams.

"I was sitting down watching and mentally saying my name every time a team had a pick, hoping I was next," says Alfonzo. "Of course, some doubts crossed my mind, but I knew it was all going to work out. Did I imagine it, yes, but did I actually think it was going to work out this way? No. This [story] couldn't have been written any more perfectly."

Drafted by the New York Yankees in 2014, junior pitcher Dylan Barrow was selected a second time in the 23rd round by the Chicago White Sox. Barrow, a right-handed thrower, struck out 56 opponents and recorded a team-leading five saves. Borrow elected to come back to UT this past season to complete his third year of eligibility while keeping his goal of entering the MLB Draft the same.

"You always have an idea where you want to go and where you think you'll go leading up to the season and draft, but nothing is promised. I was expecting to get picked at some point and am glad it was a great organization like the White Sox," says Barrow.

Barrow credited much of his success to the UT coaching staff. He applauds them for their knowledge and time spent on the baseball field, "They've been around the game for a long time and have had plenty of success coaching and playing. This helps young athletes that come through here looking to get better and wanting to continue their careers."

In the 25th round, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected the two-time All-American senior outfielder Stephen Dezzi. Dezzi was a four-year letter winner and a two-time national champion for UT leading the team with 14 home runs this season.

"My career at Tampa is about as crazy as it gets. I started out as a bench guy and basically watched for my first two years as we took the first of two national championships. I finally got a shot to play and did well; it was unbelievable."

The Sarasota, Fla., native received the news shortly after hearing word on his other teammates being drafted. Dezzi expressed, "I'm so happy for them. Those guys are awesome. From work ethic to personality they're stand up guys who absolutely deserve the opportunity ahead of them. I wish them nothing but the best and I know they will be successful."


In the 32nd round, the Los Angeles Angels selected junior third baseman Nick Flair. After competing for Gulf Coast State College and Mississippi State University, respectively, Flair rounded out his career at Tampa, leading the Spartans with a team high 59 RBI and 9 homeruns.

Despite suffering an injury halfway through Sunshine State Conference play, Flair never lost sight of his ultimate goal, "I didn't expect to have any injuries this year, but I did expect to win a national championship. That's why people come to Tampa, to win a national championship with the hopes of playing professionally. With my year coming to a close at Tampa, I am extremely excited how it ended."

The Philadelphia Phillies selected senior first baseman Andrew Amaro in the 35th round, which concluded the draft for the Spartans. The one-year transfer from the University of Maryland completed his career at UT playing in 44 games and was twice named the Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Amaro was drafted to the Phillies for a second time (first in 2011), where his uncle Ruben Amaro Jr., is the organizations general manager. "It means a lot to play for my family in Philadelphia. Drafting players with a good bloodline is more common than not in baseball. Usually because these types of athletes are out to prove something."

This weekend, the five draftees will report to their respective teams as they embark on their next chapter of their baseball careers.

"All five guys will learn that this is a job now, and they need to continue working hard to have a chance. They need to continue having fun at the game they love and stay even keel through the ups and downs of professional baseball," Urso said.

Written by Candace Martino