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Rob Delaney Signs Free Agent Deal With Minnesota Twins

Queens, N.Y. Red Storm pitcher Rob Delaney signed a free agent deal to play in the Minnesota Twins organization on Thursday. The 6-foot-3 right-hander agreed to terms with the Twins, becoming the first St. John's player of 2006 and eighth in the last two seasons to begin a professional baseball career.

Delaney is boarding a plane to Fort Myers, Fla., tonight and is expected to begin play with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins shortly after.

"I'm really thankful for this opportunity and am excited to get started," Delaney said. "I'm fortunate to have gotten a lot of help from Coach Blankmeyer, and I'm happy to get a chance to pursue my dream."

Delaney helped lead the Red Storm pitching staff to the sixth-lowest earned run average in the nation (3.21) and was one of the BIG EAST Conference's top pitchers in league play. The junior finished second in the conference with a 2.42 ERA and seventh with 51 strikeouts, while allowing three earned runs or fewer in eight of his nine BIG EAST starts.

A strong start by Delaney against South Florida in the 2006 BIG EAST Championship helped keep St. John's season alive and sparked a run of three straight tournament wins. Against the Bulls, Delaney allowed eight hits and four runs and struck out three batters over six innings. For the season, Delaney fanned 78 batters in a career-high 75.1 innings and ranked among the BIG EAST and NCAA strikeouts leaders for much of the season.

"Rob's been a BIG EAST starter for the last two seasons," said head coach Ed Blankmeyer. "He's ready for an opportunity like this, and it is coming at the right time."

Despite the signing of seven St. John's players to professional contracts after a record-breaking 2005 season, the youthful Red Storm won 40 games for a second consecutive season in 2006. Delaney, sophomore Matt Tosoni and freshman Scott Barnes comprised an entirely new BIG EAST weekend rotation, and freshman Rich Armento (five saves) led a successful effort to replace All-American closer Craig Hansen.

June 15, 2006

Delaney shines in closing act

By Rob Lucas
Beloit Daily News


Staff photo by Rob Lucas
Beloit closer Rob Delaney currently leads the Midwest League with 18 saves.

When opposing teams hear Metallica's Enter Sandman blaring from the speakers late in a game at Pohlman Field, two things are almost always certain.

One, they are losing. Two, it's going to stay that way.

At least that's the goal of Beloit Snappers' closer Rob Delaney, who recently earned a spot on the Midwest League's Western Division All-Star team. Delaney's numbers look like they were exported from a video game as he carries a 0.55 ERA to go with a league-high 18 saves.

I'm fortunate enough to just come in and throw strikes, Delaney said. One of the keys to my success is throwing strikes early and the defense does a great job of fielding the ball and making outs.

Along with his microscopic ERA, he's also sporting two black eyes after taking a ball in the nose during batting practice a few days ago.

I took a ball during batting practice right off my nose, said Delaney. But I'm OK. I know who threw it, but I don't want to rat him out.

Bodily harm may be the only way to stop Delaney, who uses impressive command along with a devastating slider to make hitters take swings that are more appropriate for thrashing wheat than hitting a baseball. He has allowed just 16 hits and two earned runs in 32 2/3 innings. But this dream season was close to never happening.

The 6-foot-3 righthander played his college baseball at St. John's and fanned 78 hitters in 75 1/3 innings his senior year in 2006. However, those numbers weren't good enough to be draft-worthy as he saw the 50-round crapshoot come and go without a phone call.

I didn't really anticipate getting drafted and I didn't, said Delaney said. I hoped, but I wasn't too down or too up about it. They (the Twins) contacted me about a week or 10 days after the draft. I had my doubts, but it turned out for the best.

Not only did Delaney land in a winning organization, he landed with people who have developed perhaps baseball's best pitcher in Johan Santana along with former Snappers and top prospects Kevin Slowey and Matt Garza.

I'm excited about it, Delaney said. This organization has a great reputation for putting outstanding teams out on the field and especially pitchers. This is a very good organization pitching-wise. There are tremendous pitchers are every level and it's just a privilege to be a part of it.

The road won't be easy for Delaney, especially as an undrafted free agent. He must continue to impress at every level and prove to the Twins he belongs.

I feel very comfortable putting him in. He's really done some things for himself in this organization, Snappers manager Jeff Smith said. When you come from an undrafted free agent status, you work and do extra things to put yourself in the right direction and he really has.

The Hillsdale, N.J., native said the reason he has improved so much this year compared to 2006 is far simpler than you'd think.

I think it's watching guys, on TV and other players on our team, Delaney said. I watch the older guys who have had success; where they throw and on what counts. They way they go about their business and how they approach each hitter and each situation. That helps.

I take a little from here and there, Delaney added. I try to watch everyone in general and try to take something out of what they do.

Smith said the thing that separates Delaney from other pitchers is that he doesn't fear anything whenever he toes the rubber.

In all my years of playing I've seen players like him, but this kid really has no fear, Smith said. He is not afraid to challenge hitters. He is not afraid if the game is tied, bases loaded, doesn't matter. He goes right after hitters and that's what you want.

Smith said Delaney is the type of player he wants to have the ball in the ninth, and even though the Twins as an organization don't like labeling players as closers in the minors, they are thrilled with Delaney's start to the season.

With all the one-run games this year, the organization loves that, Smith said. It puts guys in tight situations where every pitch and every at-bat counts. When some of that stuff happens, they are comfortable when they move up and the game isn't as fast. That's one thing he has done real well. He's adjusted to those late inning situations.

The All-Star selection for Delaney was just a cherry on the sundae on a great first half. However, the modest Delaney didn't revel in his achievements for too long.

I'm very excited about the chance and about being chosen as an All-Star, said Delaney. I just hope I can do well.

Posted: Friday, Jun 08, 2007

Hairy situation gets out of hand for Snappers

By Rob Lucas
Beloit Daily News

There's a growing problem in the Beloit Snappers' clubhouse.

No, it's not a team chemistry issue and in fact, it has nothing to do with the team's play on the field.

It has more to do with the look of a few players off the field.

For those of you who haven't been to a Snappers' game this year (and shame on you, it's always a good time at Pohlman Field), I'll tell you of the hairy situation.

All-Star closer Rob Delaney has a mustache. But not just any mustache; it's a thick, boisterous mustache straight out of Miami Vice that has many members of the Snappers' clubhouse up in arms.

It looks like a walrus, recently promoted Jeff Manship said.

He looks like an old man, added Brian Dinkelman.

Some had slightly stronger opinions on the matter.

It's disgusting, there's not doubt about it, Danny Valencia said. It's gross. When he eats, food gets stuck in it. It's nasty.

I think he needs to trim it up a little bit, Danny Berg said. It's growing over his lip a little too much. It's starting to tuck into his mouth a little.

But rather than letting his teammates bash his 'stache, I thought it was only fair to go to the source and see what started this fiasco.

It's the only facial hair the Twins allow you to grow, Delaney said. It's either clean shaven or mustache. I started growing it as a joke, but I can't shave it. It's been too long. It's getting a lot of attention.

Even pitching coach Steve Mintz threw in his two cents on Delaney's furry friend.

It's an A-ball mustache, Mintz said, who has quite the mustache himself. He doesn't have a big league mustache like I do yet. He still has to work on that.

Berg's assessment that Delaney needs a trimmer is spot on as he can often be seen in the bullpen chewing on the wayward hairs, waiting for his chance to pitch.

He still has to learn how to trim that thing up, said Mintz. He just lets it grow out, but he's got to learn how to trim it so everything grows the same.

Although some might be a bit put off by Delaney's lip filter, others have welcomed it as the 26th man on the roster.

I think Rob Delaney's mustache just shows his character, Steve Singleton said. It's big, it's beefy, it's bold. It's not afraid to come in a close a game with the bases loaded, nobody out. It's intimidating. It's manly. It's baseball.

Singleton is right. It is baseball. Throughout the years, there have been many great mustachioed men in the big leagues. Rollie Fingers' handlebars come to mind first, but other first-rate facial hair litters the big leagues. Former Twins' ace Jack Morris, Goose Gossage, and the recently deceased Rod Beck all come to mind as great pitchers with even better facial hair.

Although it may not have the notoriety of Fingers' mustache yet, most players feel that if anyone can pull of the fuzzy facewarmer, it's Delaney.

I like it, it's brought us good luck so far, Dinkelman said prior to his promotion to Fort Myers. It seems like everywhere we go he gets a comment from a fan on it.

It looks good on him. For some of the guys, not so much. He's got the best one by far.

Other players have tried the mustache and achieved some success, including Allan de San Miguel and Matthew Fox. De San Miguel used it to break out of a cold streak at the dish while Fox is a perfect 5-0 this year.

I was struggling and he told me that if I got a hit that game I had to grow it, de San Miguel said. I got a hit that game and a homer in my next game. I think I've got to keep it now.

Dan Leatherman, a fellow bullpen mate, attempted a mustache, but was told by Delaney to cease and desist immediately.

It's worked for him so far, but he doesn't like when other guys have mustaches better than him, Leatherman said. I already tried (to grow one) and he didn't like it. He made me shave it.

He's lying about that, he's just scared to grow one, Delaney responded.

But one thing is for sure - the mustache is here as long as Rob Delaney is.

It's going to stay for a while, said Delaney. It may have to go away when I go home, though.

Posted: Thursday, Jul 05, 2007

Miracles Delaney Class As top reliever

By Special to the Fort Myers News-Press.com

Fort Myers Miracle relief pitcher Rob Delaney was named the Class A Reliever of the Year by milb.com on Wednesday. The 23-year-old split the 2007 season between Beloit and Fort Myers, establishing himself as one to watch in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Delaney signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Twins in 2006 after pitching three seasons at St. Johns University.

He compiled a 3-0 record, with a 1.03 ERA and 36 saves, at Beloit. The right-hander allowed only eight earned runs over 70 innings, while striking out 83.

The River Vale, N.J., native was promoted to Fort Myers in mid-July. He went 2-0, with seven saves and a 1.54 ERA, in 17 games, allowing 19 hits in 23fi innings. He fanned 27 and walked 10.

It was kind of surprising, Delaney said in a team news release. I was just excited with the way things were going. Everything just seemed to work out well this year.

Originally posted on October 11, 2007