Mike Belfiore's MLB career is the stuff of Hollywood.
The former Boston College lefty was recalled by Baltimore from Triple-A Norfolk for the Orioles' Sunday rubber match with the Twins in Minneapolis. Belfiore was called up for extra help in the bullpen, and despite the Orioles' 6-0 blanking of the Twins in a game where the starting pitcher left after five innings, he was not used in his Major League debut.
On Monday, and as quickly as he had been called up, Belfiore had been optioned back down to Triple-A Norfolk. The lefty is now ineligible to return unless a player goes on the DL.
The Baltimore Orioles blog Camden Chat wonders what it would have taken to get Mike "Moonlight" Belfiore into the game?
Belfiore was acquired from the Diamondbacks for Josh Bell. He's 24, throws with his left hand, and has not exactly impressed with a 5.52 ERA in 14.2 IP for the Tides so far this season. But he was on the 40-man roster and had a pulse yesterday, so into the bullpen he went. What would it have taken for a disaster scenario for Belfiore to make his major league debut in the game? A 10-run deficit? A 10-run lead? We will never know.
The day before Belfiore was recalled by Baltimore, fellow Eagle Tony Sanchez got the call-up from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's currently with the Bucs' taxi squad.
BCEagles.com has the complete rundown of former Birdballers in the pros. With any luck, Belfiore, Sanchez or another Eagle will eventually see the field this season.
For more on the O's and Pirates, check out Camden Chat and Bucs Dugout, respectively. You can also follow both Mike (@MJBelfiore) and Tony (@Tony26Montana) on Twitter.