Professional baseball for 27-year-old Pete Maestrales has been a cross-country adventure.
The Arizona Giants, the Salem Volcanoes, the Atlantic City Surf, the Newark Bears, the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Burlington (Iowa) Bees, the High Desert (Adelanto, Calif.) Mavericks and the Frederick Keys take up a lot of space on the back of Maestrales? baseball card.
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Since leaving the University of Delaware in 2001, Maestrales has not spent more than two seasons with any one team, and his shortest stint was five days in Arizona.
“As far as I?m concerned I?ve caught on with the Orioles,” he said. “I have this opportunity to do something I love every day.”
Usually a leadoff hitter, Maestrales can play many positions but has found a home at third base this season with the Keys.
“The only thing I haven?t seen him do is catch,” designated hitter Jason Fransz said.
Maestrales, a native of Delray Beach, Fla., said that baseball has always been in his blood and that he even played semipro ball with his father for the Ft. Lauderdale Mudcats.
A 5-foot-11 switch-hitter, Maestrales used to be the one asking former teammates Rickey Henderson, Jose Lima and Jamie Navarro for advice. Now he finds himself answering questions from his younger Keys teammates.
“He?s a seasoned vet.” Fransz said. “He helps us, especially when we?re struggling.”
After five years of floating around the minors, Maestrales said he still has the dedication to run out on the field every day in Frederick.
“I?ve been playing baseball since I could walk,” he said. “I don?t think I?ll ever have enough. It?s only over if you want it to be over.”
THE MAESTRALES FILE
Age: 27
Throws: Right
Bats: Switch-hitter
Did you know? Maestrales has spent time in the minors with three different major-league organizations ? the Royals, Giants and Orioles. He?s also played in the independent Atlantic League ? He has played in 411 minor-league games since leaving the University of Delaware and has a career batting average of .276.
