Stephen Cardullo

Stephen Cardullo
Cardullo with the High Point Rockers in 2021
Outfielder / First baseman
Born: (1987-08-31) August 31, 1987 (age 37)
Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 26, 2016, for the Colorado Rockies
Last MLB appearance
April 22, 2017, for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
Batting average.190
Home runs2
Runs batted in9
Teams

Stephen Andrew Cardullo (born August 31, 1987) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. After playing college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles, Cardullo played for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2016 and 2017.

Career

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Cardullo attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was not recruited to play college baseball, but after a tryout became a walk-on for the Florida State Seminoles baseball team at Florida State University. After receiving little playing time as a freshman and a sophomore, he began his junior year as the Seminoles' starting first baseman before shifting to shortstop. He batted .376 with 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in, and was named a First-Team All-American.[1] In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Cardullo in the 24th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. Cardullo spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons in rookie ball with the Missoula Osprey, batting a cumulative .264/.348/.451 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 81 total games.[3] On March 20, 2012, Cardullo was released by the Diamondbacks organization.

Florence Freedom

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Cardullo signed with the London Rippers of the Frontier League for the 2012 season.[4] However, the team folded, and Cardullo was traded to the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League.[5] On the year, Cardullo slashed .263/.351/.375 between the two clubs with 3 home runs and 35 RBI in 87 games.[6]

Rockland Boulders

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Cardullo signed with the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League for the 2013 season.[7] In 2013, Cardullo batted .267/.349/.417 with 6 home runs and 56 RBI in 100 contests. The next year, Cardullo played in 92 games for Rockland with a batting line of .298/.339/.423 to go along with 6 home runs and 51 RBI. In 2015, Cardullo had a batting line of .331/.410/.518, all career-highs to go along with career-highs in RBI (76) and stolen bases (23). Cardullo was named the CanAm League MVP for the 2015 season.[8]

Colorado Rockies

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Cardullo with the Rockies in 2016

On January 6, 2016, Cardullo signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization.[9][10] The Rockies assigned Cardullo to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.

Cardullo was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 26, 2016.[11] He hit his first Major League home run against Casey Fien in the first game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 31, 2016, his 29th birthday, and his first grand slam in the second game against Bud Norris.[12] On December 2, 2016, Cardullo was non-tendered by the Rockies after hitting .214/.254/.411 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in 27 games.[13]

On December 15, 2016, Cardullo signed a minor league contract with the Rockies that included an invitation to 2017 spring training.[14] Cardullo made the Rockies' Opening Day roster out of spring and had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on March 31, 2017.[15] After collecting 4 hits in 32 plate appearances for the Rockies, Cardullo suffered a broken wrist while playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.[16] The Rockies released Cardullo on May 19, 2017,[17] but quickly re-signed him to a minor league contract on May 23.[18] He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[19]

Cardullo re-signed with the Rockies on a minor league contract on January 5, 2018. In 73 games for Triple–A Albuquerque, he batted .286/.336/.437 with three home runs and 30 RBI. Cardullo elected free agency following the season on November 2.[20]

High Point Rockers

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On April 11, 2019, Cardullo signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Cardullo was named an Atlantic League All-Star for the 2019 season.[21] He finished the year batting .266/.375/.477 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

On January 30, 2020, Cardullo signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. Cardullo did not play a Mexican League game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] He later became a free agent.

On June 15, 2021, Cardullo re-signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[23] In 91 games for High Point, he slashed .289/.412/.535 with 20 home runs, 76 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Cardullo became a free agent following the season.

New York Boulders

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On July 25, 2024, Cardullo signed a one–day contract with the New York Boulders of the Frontier League. In his only appearance for the team, he went 2–for–5 with two singles.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Cardullo still delivering for Noles". Espn.com. March 24, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "#83 Stephen Cardullo". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Stephen Cardullo Minor, Independent & Winter Leagues Statistics & History".
  4. ^ "Cardullo's perseverance pays off, called up by Rockies". Associated Press. August 26, 2016.
  5. ^ Saunders, Patrick (September 2, 2016). "Stephen Cardullo's road from independent ball to Rockies was remarkable journey – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  6. ^ "Stephen Cardullo's road from independent ball to Rockies was remarkable journey". September 2, 2016.
  7. ^ Kosmider, Nick (August 26, 2016). "Stephen Cardullo's independent baseball path reaches major leagues – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  8. ^ "Boulders fan favorite Cardullo signed by Rockies".
  9. ^ "Boulders fan favorite Cardullo signed by Rockies". Lohud.com. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "Stephen Cardullo Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  11. ^ "Former Seminole Cardullo promoted to big leagues". Tallahassee.com. August 26, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  12. ^ "Toles hits grand slam, Dodgers rally for DH split with Rox". ESPN. Associated Press. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "Colorado Rockies Non-Tender Matt Carasiti, Stephen Cardullo". December 3, 2016.
  14. ^ Todd, Jeff (December 15, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/15/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  15. ^ "Rockies Release Jason Motte".
  16. ^ "Rockies Release Stephen Cardullo".
  17. ^ Farrell, Connor (May 19, 2017). "Colorado Rockies release former independent league player Stephen Cardullo". Purple Row. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  18. ^ "Rockies Re-Sign Stephen Cardullo".
  19. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "Seven Rockers Named All-Stars". July 5, 2019.
  22. ^ "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season".
  23. ^ @RockersBaseball (June 15, 2021). "🗣 HE'S BAAAAAAAAACK!!!!! We've signed 2019 Rocker Stephen Cardullo and added him to the active roster.#RockOn #KeepRocking" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2021 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "2023-24 Transactions". frontierleague.com. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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