HISTORY OF ALESSANDRO ALEX MAESTRI
Alessandro Maestri
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5′ 11″, Weight 180 lb.
- Born June 1, 1985 in Cesena, Forli-Cesena Italy
Alessandro Maestri spent his second season in the minor leagues in 2007. He has played for the Italian national team.
Maestri played for the Italian junior national team in the 2002 World Junior Championship, going 0-2 with a 7.26 ERA in two outings. Maestri was 3-1 with a save and 2.97 ERA in Serie A1 in 2005, pitching for T&A San Marino and helping them reach the finals, in which he won his lone decision. He was signed by the Chicago CubsMajor League Baseball team. that season, making him the first player from the Tirrenia Academy to be signed by a
In the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Maestri relieved in two games. He retired two of the three batters he faced, but gave up a home run to the third, Moises Alou. He debuted in the US that season with the Peoria Chiefs, going 4-3 with a save and a 3.80 ERA in 22 games.
During the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, the right-hander was 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA. In 11 1/3 IP, he struck out 11 but allowed 17 hits. He allowed 3 runs in 1 1/3 relief innings in a 8-7 loss to Australia, started and allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings in a surprising 13-3 rout of host Taiwan and gave up 2 runs in 5 2/3 innings while starting and losing against South Korea.
In 2007, Maestri did a fine job with Peoria, posting a 6-3, 2.26 record with 12 saves in 48 outings. Opponents hit .186 against him and he struck out 83 batters in 83 2/3 IP. He made the mid-season Midwest League All-Star team but was best after the break with a 3-0, 1.10, 10 save performancem, allowing a .143 average only in the second half. He tied for 7th in the MWL in saves.
Maestri had a 2.25 ERA in two relief stints for Italy in the 2007 European Championship, in which they finished a disappointing 7th. Maestri had a rough time in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, with a 7.26 ERA. He did close up Italy’s first win ever against a Team USA that used professional players, walking the bases full before striking out Jayson Nix to end the contest.
Maestri became a starting pitcher in 2008. He was 5-3 with a 3.69 ERA and 66 K in 78 IP for the Daytona Cubs and appeared in the Florida State League All-Star Game. He was then promoted to AA with the Tennessee Smokies. He became the first Italian-born and -raised player to make it to AA. He allowed 8 runs 11 innings for the Smokies that year.
In 2008, Alessandro started off 3-1 with 2 saves a 3.30 ERA in 37 games for Tennessee and then was promoted to AAA Iowa.