Pro Baseball Pitcher From Ellington Wins Minor League Gold Glove Award
DAVENPORT, IA — Frank Mozzicato was drafted into professional baseball as a top-notch left-handed pitcher who threw four consecutive no-hitters in his senior year at East Catholic High School, leading the Eagles to a perfect 25-0 record and the Class M state championship. In the title game against Northwestern Regional, he tossed a 1-hitter with 17 strikeouts, culminating an eye-popping season with a miniscule 0.16 earned-run average and 135 strikeouts in just under 56 innings of work.
He was also an accomplished hitter at East Catholic, belting several home runs while playing first base when not on the mound. On very rare occasions, however, did anyone ever mention his defensive skills.
That changed Monday, as Mozzicato, the top draft choice of the Kansas City Royals and seventh overall selection in 2021, was chosen as the pitcher on the 9-man list of minor league Gold Glove winners for fieldingexcellenceduring the 2024 season by Rawlings and Minor League Baseball. The list encompasses one player per position from all minor league levels – Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Rookie League.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The award polishes off a solid campaign for the 21-year-old from Ellington. He started 22 games for the High-A Quad City River Bandits of the Midwest League, allowing just 72 hits while striking out 91 batters in just under 102 innings pitched. He did not commit an error all season; in fact, he has yet to be charged with an error in 62 games through his first three professional seasons.
Baseball’s top overall prospect, Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals, was one of three outfielders selected to the Gold Glove team, alongside Dasan Brown of the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization and Enrique Bradfield Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles’ farm system.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Other winners by position, with their parent organization, were:
“Rawlings is pleased to recognize this year’s group of Gold Glove Award winners and we look forward to following their careers as they climb the ladder to Major League Baseball,” chief marketing officer Mike Thompson said in a written statement. “We are thankful for our long-standing partnership with Minor League Baseball that enables us to annually recognize the ‘Finest In The Field.'”
Click Here: Real Betis soccer tracksuit
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.