AUGUSTA, N.J. – When Michael Tamburino '13 finished his career at Pace University following the spring 2013 season, he was not ready to give up the sport he loved. Following four of the best years in the Pace baseball program's history, Tamburino went in search of the next opportunity to keep his playing career going, but an injury he fought through for a long time was going to make that a difficult task.
"It was hard to find a team that wanted me because my velocity was down and I had a torn [ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)] in my elbow, which I pitched with my entire senior year," said Tamburino. "I had to take a step back and get Tommy John surgery in September of 2013."
Tommy John surgery has become so commonplace in baseball at all levels these days that it is not unusual for young pitcher to have the surgery at some point in his career. However, instead of losing his senior season to surgery, Tamburino gutted it out, and tossed 58.1 innings during his final year. Fighting through a painful injury, he still managed to put together a 3.09 ERA and allow opposing hitters to bat just .248 against him across nine starts and 11 appearances.
"I was in the training room everyday doing whatever I could do to last the season," said Tamburino. "It got worse and worse over time. After my senior year, I tried playing in a summer league. I made about two starts and couldn't take the pain anymore and decided to have Tommy John surgery."
Head baseball coach
Henry Manning recently called Tamburino "one of the better arms to come through here in the past 10 years." The numbers back that up, as Tamburino now ranks 11th all-time with a 2.96 career ERA, falling out of the top 10 just this season after
Josh Garran (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley Regional) graduated with a 2.91 career ERA. Tamburino finds his name all over the Pace baseball record books among numerous student-athletes that went on to play professionally. Despite a strong reputation and obvious determination, finding a team that would sign a pitcher coming off a serious elbow injury proved to be no simple task.
Tamburino faced many challenges after undergoing surgery. Now graduated from college, and with no professional contract, the road to recovery was one he would have to ride on his own.
"After surgery was tough, as I wasn't in school with a training staff to see every day to help with the process," said Tamburino. "I saw a physical therapist twice a week for the first month, and the rest I was on my own. I did my own rehab and my own throwing program."
Pitchers at the Major League level typically need at least a year of rehab to get back on the mound, even after working with a professional training staff every day. Having to figure it out for himself stacked the odds against Tamburino, but his commitment eventually helped him take the necessary steps to pursue the professional career he desired.
"Last summer I joined a 25-and-older team out of my town to get some innings once I was ready," said Tamburino. "I went to a tryout in Ohio for the Frontier League, but didn't do well because I was still fresh off Tommy John. My velocity was still down at about 85, 86."
While the tryout itself did not go as he had hoped, Tamburino was told about the California Winter League and saw it as his final chance to keep playing the sport he loves. He took his chances out on the West Coast and found that the change of scenery proved to be a game changer for him.
"The California Winter League consisted of guys just like me trying to find a team, except I was one of the oldest guys there," explained Tamburino. "Turned out the warm weather did me good, and I dominated the league throwing 89-92 mph."
That is when Tamburino got noticed by the Sussex County Miners, a second-year team out of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, better known as the Can-Am League. Tamburino became one of 30 players on the Miners' spring training roster, and still faced an uphill battle trying to become one of the final 22 players to make the team.
"The process of making the roster was difficult, a lot of throwing and a lot of running," said Tamburino. "The roster is loaded with guys who had played affiliated baseball and guys who had just gotten released by an affiliated baseball team, so coming in as the only guy who didn't play anywhere the year before and with no professional experience, I thought I was the long shot to make the team."
Even with the deck stacked against him, Tamburino stuck his nose in the dirt and did everything he could do to make the team. After getting some innings in a few exhibition games, Tamburino says he threw strikes and got guys out. Not only did he impress the coaching staff enough to make the final roster, he earned himself a spot in the starting rotation.
Miners' manager Bobby Jones made the decision to sign Tamburino after seeing him in the California Winter League. Jones had a six-year Major League career with the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox. He had previously been the pitching coach for the local Rockland Boulders, also of the Can-Am League, before becoming the Miners' manager prior to the 2016 season.
"The first time I saw him I told him do not sign with anybody, I'm going to sign you, just give me a little time," said Jones. "I did it because I really liked how he went about his business. He was a strike thrower there. He comes into the league as a young guy and he's a strike thrower here. I think there's a lot of upside to his game."
As of his last appearance on June 15, Tamburino has appeared in six games so far this season for Sussex County. He currently has an 0-2 record with a 6.87 ERA, but Jones sees no panic in the rookie and remains confident in him.
"He's in the middle of maybe a little bit of a tough stretch, but he's very good," said Jones. "He stays the same no matter what, which is huge for his career."
Adjusting to a higher level of play, especially after undergoing what Tamburino has gone through, is certainly a challenge. He said that playing in the Northeast-10 Conference prepared him to match up against stronger competition, but adjustments still needed to be made to succeed at the professional level. Tamburino explains that a pitcher must be able to locate on the corners. He said that in college, sometimes a pitcher can get lucky and have a batter get himself out, but in the pros, missing your spot will prove costly.
"My first appearance was everything I thought it would be, heart beating out of my chest, being very nervous, felt like I had butterflies in my stomach," said Tamburino. "Since then I've had other appearances and starts. They were different. It felt like I belonged there and that I was ready to do what I knew I could do."
Tamburino has enjoyed his first couple of months with the Miners. He said that playing professional baseball at any level is a dream. The rookie has had a blast not only playing for the team, but also interacting with fans.
"To play a game that you love in front of a big crowd is something that every little kid dreams of," said Tamburino. "After games, little kids running through the stands to get an autograph is a special feeling."
Tamburino credits much of his success to his time with Coach Manning and Pace University. He called Manning the best influence he had during his time at the University and described him as a great coach with great baseball knowledge. Tamburino also said that Pace helped mold him into the person he wanted to be.
"My time at Pace was unquestionably the best years of my life to date," said Tamburino. "I made a lot of great friends who I still talk to today. Being at Pace, away from home, definitely made me grow up and become the man I am today."
While his time at Pace played a big role in his future, Tamburino says the biggest influence on his career has to be his family. After having surgeries on his elbow and his shoulder, his family was there to help push him through and get him back on the field. They also happen to be his biggest fans.
"My first start was at home and my whole family came to watch, including some of my cousins, my aunt and my uncle," said Tamburino. "Seeing them in the crowd cheering for me was incredible. My family waited to take pictures after the game, everyone was so happy for me. It made me feel very loved."
Tamburino's professional career has just begun, but he already has his sights set on a greater future. However, if this is as high as his career goes, then he can be satisfied with that.
"I would love to move to the next level and I will do anything and everything to get there," said Tamburino. "But if this is the highest level I can get to, I would be happy with no regrets knowing I did everything I could in my power."
The Sussex County Miners are currently in fifth place in the Can-Am League with a 13-19 overall record (as of June 22). They are in the midst of a three-game series with the Cuban National Team. You can continue to follow Tamburino and the Miners' season at
www.SussexCountyMiners.com.
For all information regarding Pace baseball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics) and Twitter (
@PaceUAthletics), and follow Pace baseball on Instagram (
@PaceBaseball).
Special thanks to the Sussex County MIners for providing photos, interviews and information.
