There have been countless times where a position player has been called on to pitch. Usually one team is burying its opponent and the team getting buried either has no bullpen arms left or is trying to avoid using them in the blowout.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently talked about a mercy rule in Major League Baseball, saying that it could be worth looking at.
Former Bristol Eastern standout Connor Fitzsimons had been a position player for his entire professional baseball career. That was before Aug. 9, when he took the mound for the Burlington Bees, the Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Burlington was down 7-1 in the ninth inning, and Fitzsimons was called on to save the rest of the Bees bullpen.
Fitzsimons threw one pitch, a fastball, winced in pain, and was removed from the game, according to accounts of the game. He was placed on the seven-day injured list on Aug. 10, but as it turns out, his professional baseball career is over, for now. Fitzsimons retired on Monday, according to the transactions listing on his Burlington Bees stats page. He was placed on the voluntarily retired list, meaning he could return. Fitzsimons would have to wait to be reinstated, according to minor league baseball rules.
Fitzsimons, who was a catcher for Central Connecticut State University, played in 197 games in the Angels minor league system from 2016-2019. He hit .224 with 142 hits in 635 at bats. Fitzsimons scored 81 runs and had 28 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 83 RBI, 67 walks, 246 strikeouts and five stolen bases. He was a catcher, first baseman, third baseman and outfielder during his career. Fitzsimons compiled a .983 fielding percentage in 42 career games at catcher, including 33 starts. He played 137 games, including 136 starts, at first base and had a .988 fielding percentage at that position.
Headshot photo courtesy of the Burlington Bees
