Staten Island, NY |  The College of Staten Island is home to the four-time defending CUNYAC Champion baseball team, but during the off-season the professionals call the school home too, and this week three MLB Minor Leaguers took their talents to the Dolphin Tank, the official stomping grounds of the CSI Strength & Conditioning program, to continue their rigorous training during the offseason, and while fresh snow is on the outdoor grass.  Pitchers Dillon McNamara of the San Francisco Giants organization, Shea Spitzbarth of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, and Vin Aiello of the Miami Marlins organization, are all Staten Island natives, and are using The Tank to their advantage.

The young Major League Baseball hopefuls are continuing the tradition of using CSI as a workout site during the offseason, connecting with CSI Head Coach Michael Mauro, who organized the activity with Antonio Meza, CSI Strength & Conditioning Coach.

“It’s great having professional baseball players come in and be a part of our family,” said Mauro.  “Watching how they work and approach their off-season conditioning is a model for how we strive to condition our student-athletes when they are in-season.  It makes it so much more special that they are from Staten Island.  I have no doubt that they are going to be very successful ball players at every level.”

A 2013 draft selection of the New York Yankees, McNamara started his career with the neighborhood Staten Island Yankees .  After being acquired by the San Francisco Giants in 2017, McNamara assumed a large role with the AA affiliate Richmond Flying Squirrels this past minor league season, where he amassed a 4-2 record with a 1.20 ERA in 45 innings of work.  A graduate of Moore Catholic High School, McNamara went on to a tremendous career with Adelphi University where he was an All-America and multiple record-setter before being drafted.

Signed by the Dodgers as a free agent in 2015, Spitzbarth has played with six minor league teams within the Dodgers organization.  In 2018, he pitched just three innings with the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers before moving to AA affiliate Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, where he went 3-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 63.2 innings of work, fanning 84, as batters hit just .215 against him.  Another Moore Catholic product, Spitzbath was a standout at Molloy College during his collegiate career.

Aiello was also signed as a free agent by the Miami Marlins in 2017.  He spent the majority of his time with Single-A affiliate Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League in 2018, going 4-1 with a 4.76 ERA.  Opponents batted just .200 against him, and he struck out 48 batters next to 11 walks in 46.1 innings of work.  A graduate of Tottenville High School, Aiello enjoyed a terrific career with Oklahoma University prior to his MLB signing.

For now, the three hurlers will continue their progress towards their career in the major leagues by using The Tank for their strength and conditioning needs.  When the trio have concluded their workouts, they will get their arms warm by tossing in CSI’s main arena, especially with the cold weather hampering their outdoor activity.