San Marino resident Joey Steele was recently selected by the Miami Marlins in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball draft. Steele, a 2014 graduate of St. Francis High School, took a post-graduate year at the IMG Academy in Florida before enrolling at the University of San Francisco, where he played for the Dons. A pitcher, Steele made 28 appearances for USF in 2019, striking out 54 batters in 35 innings as the Dons went 30-26 overall.
The son of Paula and Bill Steele, Joey graduated from USF last month with a degree in Business and planned on attending graduate school until the Marlins came calling.
“Joey has a tremendous upside,” said former San Marino High School baseball coach Mack Paciorek, who has followed Steele’s career. “He is a big guy with good velocity and a wicked slider. If given enough time, who knows what can happen.”
A righthander, Steele is listed at 6’2” and 195 lbs.
Father Tony Marti, president of St. Francis High School, said Steele is “an excellent young man.”
Nino Giarratano has coached the USF baseball team for 22 years and is a big fan of the big righthander.
“I am so proud of him,” said Giarratano. “I know how hard he has worked and what he has put into the game. I am so happy that he will be able to live out his dream of being a professional athlete.”
Giarratano said Steele has the rare combination of “a tremendous attitude and exceptional physical ability.”
“Joey competes at the highest level and holds himself accountable as a player and a person,” said Giarratano. “He battles back when things don’t go his way and he is humble when they do. I am so happy for this great kid and his family.”
