Three generations play ball

Miracle hurler part of pro pedigree

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Over the past three generations, a young man named Sawatski has gotten paid to play baseball.

The latest member, 23-year-old Jay Sawatski, never turned into a catcher like his father, John, or his late grandfather, Carl.

Jay Sawatski, who is left-handed, has emerged as a relief pitcher and closer for the Fort Myers Miracle of the Class A Florida State League.

"They were born right-handed, and they batted left-handed," Jay said. "I'm left-handed, and I bat right-handed. It's just one of those things."

Carl Sawatski, who died in 1991 at age 64, broke into the big leagues in 1948 at age 20 with the Chicago Cubs. He ended his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963, finishing with 58 career home runs, 213 RBI and a .242 average.

John Sawatski, 53, played in the minor leagues for the Cardinals, including a stint for the Class Double-A Arkansas Travelers, but he never reached the majors.

Jay, who turned 23 on May 7, entered Wednesday night's game against the Sarasota Reds with a 3-2 record, a 4.08 ERA and a team-high eight saves. In 39 2/3 innings, he had struck out 34 batters.

The Miracle play host to the Sarasota Reds at 7:05 tonight at the Lee County Sports Complex.

"I've grown up in a baseball family," Jay said. "It's just one of those things where I've grown around playing baseball.

"I've always played first base and pitched. I never wanted to be a catcher."

Having a father and grandfather for catchers always helped while growing up, Jay said.

John Sawatski, who works as a real estate appraiser near Little Rock, Ark., coached Jay from age 3 through high school.

"He caught me until about three years ago," Jay said. "When I came home from college, I'd always have someone to throw to."

Jay and John both attended the University of Arkansas. The difference: Jay played on the college baseball team, but John signed with the Cardinals as a free agent and began playing as a professional while still enrolled in college.

Last year, Jay led Arkansas to the College World Series, and he led the team with 10 wins and five saves. The Twins then selected Jay in the eighth round of the 2004 draft.

In the early 1970s, John struggled in the minor leagues. He never advanced past Double-A, minor league ball.

"I was going to school in the fall and then playing ball in the summer," John said. "It's just not a good combination. Looking back on it, I would do it like Jay's doing it. You either play baseball full time, or you go to school full time. I felt like I was getting behind in both."

Just as John remembers being in the clubhouse of Carl's teams as a youth, Jay recalls being in and around a clubhouse as a child.

After retiring as a player, Carl Sawatski became the general manager of the Arkansas Travelers. He later became the president of the Texas League, the Double-A league that includes the Travelers. Carl remained in that role for 15 years until his death.

"I played for Carl," Miracle pitching coach Eric Rasmussen said. "He was a good guy."

Jay learned a lot about how to focus and how to pitch from growing up around professional players, Rasmussen said.

"When you come from that kind of a background, maybe you're a little more used to it, hanging around the ballpark," Rasmussen said. "If you're a kid growing up in a ballpark, you're probably a little more advanced. You can see who acts right and who doesn't. Kids watch real close when they're young."

Jay said he enjoys his role as a late-inning relief pitcher.

"I like coming in when the game is on the line," he said.

Sawatski started the season strong, went through a slump and appears to be pitching better lately, Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said.

"When he started off the season, he was nails," Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said. "He was money.

"Then he ran into a bump in the road. Now, he's making adjustments. He needs to realize when he needs to use his off-speed pitches better, and he needs to keep hitters off balance.

"He needs to throw more inside strikes. The hitter will lean out over the plate if they know you're throwing out to the side."

John Sawatski hopes his son will reach the big leagues, carrying on Carl's legacy.

"My biggest regret in life, is my dad never got to see Jay perform at a really high level," John said. "He would have been really pleased with that."

Sawatski salaries through the generations

Fort Myers Miracle relief pitcher Jay Sawatski is a third-generation professional baseball player. Here's a look at how minor league salaries have changed with each generation:

Today: Jay and his teammates each make about $1,600 a month.

Early 1970s: John Sawatski, a catcher on the Class Double-A Arkansas Travelers, recalls making about $500 a month in 1970, his first year.

Late 1940s: Carl Sawatski made his debut with the Chicago Cubs at age 20 in 1948. Back in his day, "salaries" for minor league players covered basic living expenses. By the time Carl retired from playing in 1963, the average major league salary was about $20,000 — or $3,300 per month during the six-month season.