ROCKLIN, Calif. – Fans of Jessup Baseball will recognize a familiar name on the roster of the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks this season. Returning to the diamond after spending 2021 as Jessup Baseball's third base coach is professional baseball player Brock Stassi.
 
A Sacramento native, Stassi began his professional baseball career in 2011 when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Stassi played his collegiate baseball at the University of Nevada, Reno, and he played high school ball at Yuba City High School.
 
Baseball is in the Stassi blood. Brock is not the only Stassi to receive a call to the big leagues, as his brother Max has been a staple in the majors since 2013, piecing together a now eight-year MLB career as a catcher with the Houston Astros, winning a World Series in 2017, and now with the Los Angeles Angels.
 
Stassi spoke on the bond baseball has created in his family, stating, "We grew up loving the game. Our dad was a high school baseball coach, and his dad played. We've also had some family down the line that played professionally as well. It's in our blood. It's very cool to talk baseball with my brothers and my father as well."
 
For Brock, a first baseman, his dream came to reality on April 3, 2017, as he made his MLB debut with the Phillies at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio. Big league hit number one came in Philadelphia on April 10 against the New York Mets, a home run nonetheless.
 
"Making it to the big leagues was a lifelong dream of mine," added Stassi. "To be able to accomplish that and have my first hit be a homer, that was the icing on top of the cake."
 
Stassi most recently was a member of the San Francisco Giants organization, playing home games just up the freeway from Jessup as a member of the Giants' Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats. Stassi appeared in 24 games during his River Cats' tenure.
 
Looking for one more call-up to the show as a member of the Oakland Athletics organization, Stassi's 2020 season was cut short after COVID-19 brought to an end the Minor League Baseball season and most of the Cactus League Season in Spring Training as well.
 
Due to cutbacks across baseball in the COVID shortened season of 2020, Stassi was released. To stay in baseball, a local connection at Jessup paved the way for him to remain in baseball as a coach, reuniting Stassi with an old friend in Jessup Head Coach Trevor Paine.
 
"I've known Trevor for a long time," said Stassi. "We grew up playing against each other, and we battled it out in college as well. To be on staff with him was fun. I learned a lot. Playing for as long as I have, I thought I knew a lot about the game, but being on the other side of it, there's still a lot more to learn. I felt like I grew as a coach and a person as well."
 
The signing with the Ducks was made official by the team on May 17. Stassi and his team began their season on May 28 against the Lexington Legends.  
 
On his excitement to get back on the field, Stassi added, "It's through the roof. My last at-bat was at Raley Field in Sacramento. I tore a tendon in my wrist on Mother's Day, so I haven't taken a live at-bat since Mother's Day 2019. Being in Spring Training with Oakland last year and having it all shut down due to COVID was tough. Being back on the field has been awesome. I'm excited and ready to go."
 
Long Island's roster currently has 13 players who have reached the majors, including 2010 World Series Champion Hector Sanchez and two-time All-Star pitcher Akeel Morris.
 
The Ducks are led by veteran Wally Backman, a 14-year veteran as a player who won the World Series with the New York Mets in 1986. The career baseball vet has been managing since 1997.
 
Jessup Athletics will be cheering on the Long Island Ducks this season, as Brock Stassi makes another push for a well-deserved career in professional baseball.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).