Darin Mastroianni

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Darin Mastroianni

|image = Darin Mastroianni.jpg

|caption = Mastroianni with the Minnesota Twins

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|8|26}}

|birth_place = Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 24

|debutyear = 2011

|debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = May 21

|finalyear = 2016

|finalteam = Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .206

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 4

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 24

|teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2011}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2014}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2016}})

}}

Darin Paul Mastroianni (born August 26, 1985) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins.

Mastroianni was born in Mount Kisco, New York and attended Fox Lane High School in Bedford, New York and then Winthrop University and University of Southern Indiana. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2007 MLB amateur draft.

Playing career

=Toronto Blue Jays=

He played for the Auburn Doubledays in 2007, hitting .287 with three home runs, 26 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 68 games. In 2008, he hit .228 with three home runs, 25 RBI and 30 stolen bases for the Lansing Lugnuts. He split 2009 between the Dunedin Blue Jays and New Hampshire Fisher Cats, hitting a combined .297 with 70 stolen bases in 131 games. He played for the Fisher Cats again in 2010, hitting .301 with 46 stolen bases.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mastro001dar BR Minors]

Mastroianni was called up to replace the newly acquired Kelly Johnson, who had to return to Arizona because he forgot his passport. He debuted for the Blue Jays on August 24, 2011, in center field.[https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=374408 Johnson's arrival delayed; Blue Jays recall Mastroianni] Mastroianni finished his debut 0-for-2 with a strikeout. He was designated for assignment before the 2012 season began.{{cite web|last=Tim|first=Dierkes|title=Blue Jays Designate Darin Mastroianni For Assignment|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/02/blue-jays-designate-darin-mastroianni-for-assignment.html|publisher=MLB Trade Runors|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=February 1, 2012}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On February 9, 2012, he was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.{{cite web|last=Bollinger|first=Rhett|title=Twins claim Mastroianni, designate Vasquez|url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120209&content_id=26632710&c_id=min|work=MLB.com|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=February 9, 2012|archive-date=April 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064737/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120209&content_id=26632710&c_id=min|url-status=dead}} He was assigned to Double-A New Britain, where he was the Opening Day left fielder. He earned his first major league hit and RBI on May 11, 2012.{{cite web|title=Darin Mastroianni's breakthrough helps Twins vs. Jays|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320511109|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515101346/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320511109|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 15, 2012|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=May 11, 2012}} He hit his first major league home run on June 27, 2012.{{cite web|title=White Sox 12, Twins 5|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/06/27/white-sox-12-twins-5/|agency=Reuters|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=June 27, 2012}}

Mastroianni's contract was purchased from the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on April 9, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_25530183/twins-oswaldo-arcia-probably-headed-disabled-list |title=Twins DL Oswaldo Arcia, recall Darin Mastroianni |first=Brian |last=Murphy |work=TwinCities.com |date=April 9, 2014| access-date=April 9, 2014}} He was designated for assignment eleven days later.{{cite web|title=Twins claim Fuld, designate Mastroianni|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=10812332|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 20, 2014|date=April 20, 2014}}

=Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)=

Mastroianni was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on April 22, and was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-72976730|access-date=April 22, 2014 |title=Blue Jays claim OF Darin Mastroianni |date=April 22, 2014 |work=Buffalo Bisons}} He was recalled by the Blue Jays on June 12, and sent back to Buffalo after appearing in 14 games, where he batted .156 with 1 home run and 2 RBI. Mastroianni was designated for assignment on September 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=460826|title=Blue Jays reinstate Morrow, select Norris; Lawrie on 60-day DL|work=TSN.ca|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=September 2, 2014}} He elected free agency on October 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/minor-moves-blue-jays.html|title=Minor Moves: Free Agents, Blue Jays|last=Wilmoth|first=Charlie|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 4, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2014}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On November 1, 2014, Mastroianni signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.{{cite web|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24778265/phillies-sign-brian-bogusevic-darin-mastroianni-to-minor-league-deals|title=Phillies sign Brian Bogusevic, Darin Mastroianni to minor-league deals|last=White|first=R.J.|work=fantasynews.cbssports.com|date=November 1, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2014}} He played in 16 games for the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, hitting .293/.333/.362 with two RBI and five stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Lehigh Valley IronPigs outfielder Darin Mastroianni traded to Washington Nationals|url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/2015/05/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_outfiel_7.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=lehighvalleylive.com|date=May 5, 2015 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Nationals acquire Minor League outfielder Darin Mastroianni from Phillies for cash considerations|url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2015/5/5/8555647/nationals-acquire-minor-league-outfielder-darin-mastroianni-from-phillies|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=federalbaseball.com|date=May 5, 2015 |language=en}}

=Washington Nationals=

On May 5, 2015, Mastroianni was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/05/nationals-acquire-darin-mastroianni.html|title=Nationals Acquire Darin Mastroianni|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}} In 96 games for the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, he hit .252/.305/.343 with three home runs, 34 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.

=Minnesota Twins (second stint)=

On December 14, 2015, Mastroianni signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 12-15-2015|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/twins-to-sign-mastroianni-tovar-kintzler.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 15, 2015 |language=en}} On May 6, 2016, the Twins purchased Mastroianni's contract, adding him to their active roster.{{Cite web|title=Twins Designate J.R. Graham, Ryan O'Rourke For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/jr-graham-dfa-twins.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 6, 2016 |language=en}} He went hitless in seven games for the Twins before suffering a left oblique strain. Upon his activation from the injured list on July 4, Mastroianni was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings.{{Cite web|title=Twins Outright Darin Mastroianni|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/twins-outright-darin-mastroianni.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 4, 2016 |language=en}} After hitting .256 in 51 games for Rochester, he was released by the Twins organization on August 9.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 8/9/16|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/minor-mlb-transactions-8916.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 9, 2016 |language=en}}

=Texas Rangers=

On August 16, 2016, Mastroianni signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 8/16/16|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/giants-release-chris-denorfia.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 16, 2016 |language=en}} In 23 games for the Double–A Frisco RoughRiders, he hit .232/.284/.326 with one home run, six RBI, and five stolen bases. Mastroianni elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}