Professional Pitching Prospect From Ellington Promoted To Next Level

DAVENPORT, IA — Robert Redford may have been called "The Natural" due to his starring role in the 1984 movie of that name, but in real life, the next rung up the ladder to Major League Baseball has been climbed by Ellington's Frank Mozzicato, who is literally a Natural after being promoted within the Kansas City Royals' organization.

One month shy of his 22nd birthday, the prized left-handed pitcher has been advanced to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League. He had gotten off to a fantastic start this season with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class-A Midwest League, posting a miniscule 1.24 earned-run average in his first seven outings. He allowed just 15 hits and five earned runs in just over 36 innings, while striking out 37 batters.

The 6-foot-3 Mozzicato, the seventh overall selection in the 2021 MLB draft out of East Catholic High School in Manchester, was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Month for April. In four starts, he won his only decision while compiling a 1.27 ERA, allowed just three earned runs on eight hits over 21 1/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .110 batting average, second lowest among minor league pitchers tossing at least 20 innings.

Pitching in tough luck for the River Bandits throughout 2024, Mozzicato posted a fine 3.45 ERA despite a 5-10 record. He also earned a Gold Glove award as the best-fielding pitcher in minor league ball.

He dominated Connecticut high school baseball at East Catholic, culminating a standout career with a one-hit, 17-strikeout performance in a 7-0 victory over Northwestern Regional in the 2021 Class M championship game. He threw four straight no-hitters in his senior year, covering a stretch of just over 30 innings, and capped his scholastic days with a streak of over 49 consecutive scoreless innings.

Reaction to his promotion on Frank's Fans, a private Facebook group, had already surpassed the 40-comment mark shortly after being posted Monday by Ellington resident and group creator Russ Binkowski.

"He will be traveling [to Arkansas] today. His hard work has paid off," Binkowski wrote.