Frank Viola III
{{Notability|Sports|date=August 2021}}
{{short description|American professional baseball pitcher (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox MLB player
| name = Frank Viola III
| image =
| image_size =
| team =
| number =
| position = Pitcher
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|19}}
| birth_place = St. Paul, Minnesota
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
}}
Frank John Viola III{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=viola-002fra|title=Frank Viola Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|accessdate=July 16, 2014}} (born June 19, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is retired. He played for the Chicago White Sox Organization twice (2003-2008, 2015) and also played for the Independent League St. Paul Saints (2010), and in the Toronto Blue Jays organization (2014). Viola is the son of major league pitcher and 1988 Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola and the brother of 2008 and 2011 NCAA Champion platform diver and 2012 Olympian, Brittany Viola.
Career
Viola attended Florida College and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 29th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. After signing with the White Sox, Viola was assigned to the rookie level Bristol White Sox where he had a 5-2 record with a 3.82 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).{{cite web|last=Sports |first=Fox |url=http://tipofthetower.com/2014/03/05/blue-jays-sign-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii/ |title=Blue Jays sign knuckleballer Frank Viola III to Minor League Contract - Tip of the Tower - A Toronto Sports Site - Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Raptors, Toronto FC, Raptors and Argonauts |publisher=Tip of the Tower |date=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} After blowing out his elbow in spring training, he missing the entire 2006 season following Tommy John surgery. In 2007, Viola returned to Bristol, but pitched in only 11 games (0-0 record with a 4.96 ERA) before he injured his knee. He was released by the White Sox organization following the season.{{cite web|last=Sports |first=Fox |url=http://jaysjournal.com/2014/03/05/toronto-blue-jays-sign-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii-minor-league-contract-news-rumors/ |title=Toronto Blue Jays sign knuckleballer Frank Viola III to minor league deal - Jays Journal - A Toronto Blue Jays Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More |publisher=Jays Journal |date=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} On June 29, 2010,{{cite web|author=Pioneer Press |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_15401132 |title=St. Paul Saints sign Frank Viola (no, not that one) |publisher=TwinCities.com |date=June 29, 2010 |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} he returned to baseball after signing with the independent league St. Paul Saints and finished with a 1-2 record and a 4.58 ERA in 21 games before retiring from professional baseball.
After failing tryouts with several major league teams, Viola was hired to be a studio analyst for Bright House Sports Network on their studio show and for their Florida State League broadcasts. He also started his own fishing show and also sold timeshares.{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/97739799.html |title=Q&A with Frank Viola III, St. Paul Saints pitcher |publisher=Star Tribune |date= |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} Starting in 2012,{{cite web|url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120315&content_id=27294612&c_id=nym |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328011240/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120315&content_id=27294612&c_id=nym |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |title=Mentored by R. A. Dickey, Frank Viola III learning knuckleball to revive career with Mets |publisher=Newyork.mets.mlb.com |date=March 27, 2014 |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} Frank III worked with Toronto's R. A. Dickey, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro on developing a knuckleball to resurrect his baseball career. On March 5, 2014, he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays to a minor league contract,{{cite web|url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=tor#month=3&year=2014&team_id=141 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204103444/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=tor#month=3&year=2014&team_id=141 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2007 |title=Transactions |publisher=Toronto.bluejays.mlb.com |date=March 27, 2014 |accessdate=March 31, 2014}} and was assigned to the Lansing Lugnuts, their Class-A affiliate, on June 6.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/blue-jays-sign-another-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii/|title=Blue Jays sign another Knuckleballer with Frank Viola III|last=Whitzman|first=April|work=Canadian Baseball Network|date=March 5, 2014|accessdate=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530235339/http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/blue-jays-sign-another-knuckleballer-frank-viola-iii/|archive-date=May 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}
On June 14, 2014, Viola earned his first affiliated professional baseball win since 2005 when the Lugnuts topped the Great Lakes Loons 3-0. Viola pitched 6{{frac|2|3}} scoreless innings, allowed eight hits, struck out one and walked two batters on his way to the win.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-79839938|title=Viola wins first since 2005 in Lugs shutout|last=Wilson|first=Trey|work=Minor League Baseball|date=June 14, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2014}} On July 2, he was promoted to the Dunedin Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DunedinBlueJays/status/484432388660137984|title=Twitter / Dunedin Blue Jays|work=Twitter|date=July 2, 2014|accessdate=July 9, 2014}} In his debut for Dunedin, Viola pitched 6 innings and surrendered 1 run on 5 hits, with 4 walks.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-83079004|title=Viola knuckles, Threshers knees buckle in W|last=Murray|first=Tyler|work=Minor League Baseball|date=July 4, 2014|access-date=July 9, 2014}} On July 21, Viola was released by the Blue Jays organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&lid=123&sid=t424|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313124030/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&lid=123&sid=t424|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2012|title=Florida State League Transactions - July 2014|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=August 24, 2014}} He made 9 starts in 2014 and posted a 3–4 win–loss record, 7.15 earned run average, and a 2.05 WHIP over 39 innings.
In February 2015, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-feb-20-26-2/|title=Minor League Transactions: Feb. 20-26|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=February 28, 2015|accessdate=February 28, 2015}} He retired on March 31.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421153839/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=122|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2012|title=Carolina League Transactions|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 6, 2015}}
In 2016, Frank founded a non-profit organization Expiration 2050, which advocates toward sustainable wild fisheries and healthy marine life. His organization works closely with corporations, organizations and locals to find and create educational and creative campaigns toward viable solutions. His website, Exp2050.org went live in March 2017.
Frank now hosts a YouTube fishing series named "Fishing With Frankie", which he hosts, films and produces with his friend, Jim Cichoski.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{baseballstats|brm=viola-002fra}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, Frank, III}}
Category:Baseball players from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category:Bristol White Sox players
Category:St. Paul Saints players
Category:Lansing Lugnuts players