2 September 2023
Typically the term journeyman refers to players who have played for several organizations throughout their career. Dominic Leone took that term to another level by playing in four of them this season alone, including the Mets, who he faced for the second time in five days this weekend with the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field for three games.
The right-hander started the season with the Texas Rangers this spring and was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock out of camp. He pitched so well that it got him a job with the Mets. But then the Mets traded him to the Angels at the deadline on Aug. 1, and the Halos placed him and all of their other trade-deadline acquisitions on waivers Wednesday
The organization that drafted him claimed him Thursday, which meant he was right back on a plane to New York.
“We literally had just landed,” Leone told the Daily News on Friday at Citi Field. “So we went to Philly after this series with Anaheim. And we had just landed back in San Francisco, a 5 1/20-hour flight. And then I woke up yesterday in San Francisco on the off-day and found out I was claimed. I said, ‘OK, thanks. Great. Where are they? Oh, they’re in New York.’
“I could have just kept my apartment in New York and stayed there.”
Leone visited Citi Field last weekend with the Halos before they decided to waive all of the players they brought in at the deadline. Leone found out he was on waivers while sitting in the clubhouse watching TV with the rest of the waiver candidates.
Leone went 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 31 appearances for the Mets this season. He fared well in some tough spots, often tasked with warming up in the early innings as the Mets’ starters routinely failed to go deep into games. He didn’t pitch quite as well in Anaheim, posting a 5.54 ERA in 11 appearances, but Seattle liked his experience.
“We don’t have a ton of it in our bullpen,” said manager Scott Servais. “We saw him earlier in the year, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in Anaheim. I don’t know how he did it, but he did. He’s throwing the ball pretty good.”
The Mariners come into New York with the best ERA in the Major Leagues (3.64 ERA) and the second-best bullpen (3.41 ERA).
“The numbers may not look pretty, but I’m doing something right,” Leone said. “It hasn’t been my ideal statistical year, but I still provide a lot of value.”
Leone has taken it in stride, but it hasn’t been as easy for his family. After spending much of his career on the West Coast, the Norwich, Connecticut native was happy to finally be closer to home. Friends and family were finally able to see him pitch.
That hasn’t been the case in Anaheim and it won’t be in Seattle either.
Leone’s wife and two kids are based in South Carolina where the Clemson product played college ball. They haven’t seen him much since the trade and they won’t join him in Seattle. It’s difficult to keep traveling with two young kids and they like the stability of being in one place.
“In a normal season, they’re normally with me, but this year has been really, really difficult,” Leone said. “It’s the side of baseball and the side of professional sports that a lot of people don’t get to see, and rightfully so because guys don’t complain about it. But it’s definitely a factor.”
Leone isn’t sure when the ride will end in Seattle, but he’s ready for whatever comes. The Mariners currently lead the AL West and if he plays deep into October with the team that drafted and developed him, the sacrifices will be worth it.
“Hopefully month plus will bring a lot of happiness and a lot of good stuff that I can take back,” he said.
Leone sees the humor of it all even if it has been tough for him to find the time to sleep this week. It still beats pitching in Triple-A. His only regret? Renting an apartment in Newport Beach.
“I’ll just get a hotel in Seattle,” he said.
WEEKEND ROTATION
Left-hander David Peterson will start the second game of the series against the Mariners on Saturday. Right-hander Tylor Megill will follow. Carlos Carrasco, who went unclaimed on waivers, remains in the bullpen.
CITI FIELD VOTED BEST FOOD
The Mets were named the winners of the 2023 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest for best stadium food. The nomination was chosen by a panel of experts from 10Best.com and USA Today and expert contributors and the final winner was voted by fans.
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