Neshannock grad makes chip on shoulder pay off
On a recent afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla., John Sansone met with a representative from the Chicago White Sox, who were gauging the Neshannock High School graduate’s interest in playing in the Windy City.
This came on the heels of Sansone receiving inquiries from upwards of 15 other Major League Baseball teams that are considering the Florida State third baseman for the MLB draft from June 9-11.
A realist, Sansone knows nothing is guaranteed after being passed over last year. But his brilliance this season leads legendary Seminoles coach Mike Martin to believe that the versatile senior will be selected.
“He’s ready,” said Martin, the 37-year veteran who had seven players drafted in 2015. “I’ll be checking my phone in a few weeks to see how he’s doing in pro ball.”
Sansone finished the regular season ranked first on the Seminoles in hits (80), RBIs (57), slugging percentage (.572) and total bases (123). He was second in batting average (.372) and runs scored (47) and third in homers (7) and on-base percentage (.455).
This past Wednesday, he and his teammates opened defense of their 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title. The Seminoles were 34-19.
One of two captains on the nation’s 11th-ranked team, the right-handed Sansone consistently excelled in front of lively crowds at Florida State’s 6,700-seat Dick Howser Stadium. Two such spectators were his parents Mirella and John, owners of Toni’s Italian Restaurant in New Castle. The Sansones have rented an apartment in Tallahassee each of the past four seasons to watch their son play.
“My biggest fans,” said Sansone, the lone WPIAL alum on the Florida State roster during his tenure.
Prior to a Mother’s Day matinee against Bowling Green, Mirella Sansone threw out the first pitch. This prompted John to hit a homer in her honor, a moment he punctuated by blowing her a kiss as he rounded third.
“She said she didn’t cry, but it looked like she might have been tearing up a little,” Sansone said. “It’s great having the support of those two. I think my dad’s missed five games my entire career.”
Motivated by being left out of last year’s draft, Sansone drastically improved his numbers in several statistical categories. Most noteworthy was a 127-point jump in his batting average. He also produced 43 multihit and 28 multi-RBI games.
“I guess you could say I’m a man on a mission,” said Sansone, who was drafted in the 39th round by Detroit out of high school but opted to play collegiately. “The morning after the draft, I called our coaches and said I wanted to play summer ball. So, I played with a chip on my shoulder [in the Northwood League in Minnesota] and it carried through to this year.”
Described as the “ideal player” by Martin, Sansone entered the ACC tournament having started 239 career games (sixth all time at Florida State) and 169 in a row. He has not missed a start since his freshman season.
The way he sees it, why eschew an opportunity to play for a Hall of Famer like Martin, who has been to 36 consecutive NCAA tournaments, 15 College World Series and has won nearly 1,900 games, second-most all time?
“I feel privileged be a part of this program,” said Sansone, who got an assist in his recruitment from his former basketball trainer, John Miller, a college teammate of Martin’s and the retired Blackhawk High basketball coach. “We’ve been in the rankings for every game I’ve played here. That’s amazing. To come from a small town like New Castle and to be playing at Florida State is almost a dream come true.”
Under the heading of “quirky statistical categories,” Sansone had been hit by 60 pitches entering the week, which is one away from the Florida State career mark. He reports that he has been plunked in the shoulder, elbow, hand, thigh, knee and ankle. Never in the head, fortunately.
After each plunking, Sansone simply drops his bat and runs to first base. No reaction ... for the most part.
“Except for the time when I got hit in the spine; it didn’t feel good at all,” Sansone said. “It’s been pretty wild.”
Same could be said of Sansone’s baseball odyssey.
A former preferred walkon with the Seminoles, he overcame early academic struggles to earn a 3.0 gradepoint average as a sports management major. He also became close friends with former teammate Jameis Winston (the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2015) and, ultimately, emerged as a college baseball star for one of the nation’s elite programs.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Sansone said. “Very fortunate to be here.”
“I guess you could say I’m a man on a mission. The morning after the draft, I called our coaches and said I wanted to play summer ball. So, I played with a chip on my shoulder [in the Northwood League in Minnesota] and it carried through to this year.”
— John Sansone, Neshannock graduate now at Florida State