Miracle pitcher gives $10 per strike to troops

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Every time Fort Myers Miracle starting pitcher Errol Simonitsch strikes out a hitter, he loses money.

That's because the 6-foot-4, 225-pound left-handed thrower has decided to donate $10 per strikeout this season to Strikeouts for Troops, an organization founded by Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito.

Strikeouts for Troops provides funds for injured soldiers and their families to allow them to visit one another. The organization also provides clothes, meals and entertainment for wounded soldiers.

"I worked out with Barry during the off-season, and my agent told me about it," said Simonitsch, 22, who makes about $1,400 a month in salary. "We just decided on $10 per strikeout per game. I'll at least throw 100 strikeouts this season. At least, I would hope so."

Zito, who will make $5.6 million this season, donates $100 per strikeout.

Entering Wednesday, Zito had 25 strikeouts, good for a $2,500 pledge.

Fellow pitchers Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox and C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians have joined the cause.

Simonitsch, the only minor leaguer so far on board with Strikeouts For Troops, started Wednesday night's game at the Lee County Sports Complex against the Port St. Lucie Mets. He entered that game with 24 strikeouts, good for a $240 donation.

"I think it's a lot of money for a kid," said Kathy Jacobson, a spokeswoman for Strikeouts for Troops. "I think it shows a lot about his character. I look forward to watching him go through the minor leagues. I hope he makes it to the big leagues."

Through his first six starts, Simonitsch had compiled a 3-1 record with a 3.38 ERA. He had given up just five walks.

The Minnesota Twins, the big-league parent club of the Class A Miracle, chose Simonitsch in the sixth round of the June, 2003 draft out of Gonzaga University.

A graduate of St. Francis (La Canada, Calif.) High, Simonitsch went 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 20 starts last season for low-Class A Quad Cities.

"He's a control, command guy," Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said. "He's got a three-pitch mix. He can throw his fastball, his curveball, his changeup for strikes. When he gets all three of those pitches going, he's pretty good."

That could mean plenty of strikeouts this season.

Simonitsch said he believes in helping the troops overseas.

"They put their lives on the line," Simonitsch said. "It would be tough for their families, not knowing what's going on."

Simonitsch said he realized that many of the soldiers he supports are his age.

"If I weren't in baseball," Simonitsch said, "I would think about being in the military."