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‘It’s kind of surreal’: Healey enjoys pro baseball experience
By JON MOFFETT
Niles
Former Youngstown State University baseball standout Jacke Healey returned this week to Eastwood Field, a place he called home for two years while at school.
But this time, he was in the visitors’ dugout.
The former fixture of the YSU infield is now a member of the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. Healey described his experiences during the team’s recent road trip against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
“It’s been awesome,” Healey said. “From the day I got a phone call after the draft, to the flight down to Florida and back up to New York to playing baseball and doing what I love, it’s been a blast every step of the way.”
Healey said he was at home in Tunkhannock, Pa., this spring when he got the call from the Houston Astros saying he was the club’s 27th-round draft pick. He said his mom was the one who saw his name scroll across the screen.
“I wasn’t really expecting much,” he said. “I mean, I was a senior playing in the Horizon League. But I got a call from a scout who saw me play and asked me if I’d seen my name.”
Healey said the scout asked him when he’d be able to sign a contract, and the next day he was on a flight to Florida for a physical. Then it was up to Troy, N.Y., to meet with coaches and teammates.
Healey opened a lot of eyes with his monstrous senior season with the Penguins. He led the team in at-bats (233), runs (63), hits (83), triples (2) RBIs (59) and home runs (12). His .356 average was third on the team, and he also started 55 out of 56 games.
He acted as a leader and supplied the team with much of its power, breaking the school record for most home runs in a season. The previous record was nine.
Healey’s numbers are much lower with the ValleyCats. In 77 at bats, Healey has 14 hits, which is good for a .182 average. He also has three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBIs.
He said the biggest differences is just getting used to playing every day.
“Every game you play, whether it is in Little league, high school, college or professional baseball, you want to win, but at this level there are just so many games,” he said. “I mean this is only 78 games; it’s a short season. But there is always another day to play.
“In college, you’ve got to win and win and win to try and stay in the playoff hunt. He’re we’re still playing for a playoff spot, but it’s not as much of a race. It’s more of a marathon. And it’s better to finish at the end of the season than at the beginning,” he said.
Healey said he’s getting used to playing up to 19 days in a row with one day off. He said it’s a grind, but he’s still loving every second of it.
“You do it because you love it,” he said. “It’s just a great feeling to play at 7 at night in front of 5,000-6,000 fans. And when you make a great play, or hit a line drive down the line, it’s exciting.”
Speaking of fans, Healey had quite a following for his brief return to his second home.
In addition to his family, Healey also had the support of several current and former YSU players. Many of the players screamed and chanted every time Healey was anywhere close to the ball.
YSU head baseball coach Rich Pasquale was also in attendance to watch his former Penguin shortstop play. But he spent time in one of the luxury boxes and didn’t scream as much.
Pasquale said it was nice to see Healey succeeding at the next level.
Asked whether it’s sunk in that he is playing baseball professionally, Healey said it’s getting there.
“It’s sunk in, but I don’t think it has sunk in all the way,” he said. “Every day I wake up with a smile on face. Not everybody gets to do this; to get paid to play baseball. It’s just awesome ... It’s kind of surreal.”