There is a long list of memorable sluggers in Buffalo Bison history. From Mike Hessman, Richie Sexson and Russell Branyan all the way back to Luke Easter, the beauty of Triple-A baseball, especially in Buffalo, is guys who can hit the ball 450 feet with one swing of the bat.
This year is no different for The Herd with Val Pascucci on a home run binge that we have not seen since the Bisons new affiliation with the Mets began three years ago. Pascucci has 11 HRs in 48 games, including a couple that have landed on the on-ramp to the I-190. Pascucci doesn't hit bombs that just clear the fence, he hits the type of homeruns that leave the fans in silent awe as he rounds the bases.
But where has Pascucci come from, and where do the Bisons continue to find these almost mythical power hitters?
Pascucci was drafted out of the University of Oklahoma by the Montreal Expos in the 15th round of the 1999 draft. To read his career statistics a quick geography lesson.
The 6'6", 235 pound slugger has played in Cape Fear, Edmonton, Lehigh Valley, New Orleans, Portland, Albuquerque, and Buffalo just to name a few. He also spent a season playing in Japan.
Pascucci began the 2010 season with playing Independent League baseball for the Camden Riversharks before an injury-depleted and offense-starved Met organization took a flyer on him and sent him to Buffalo.
Pascucci is in his third season in Buffalo, which in Minor League terms could be considered setting up roots. He did receive a brief ten game call-up to the Mets last season, and Buffalo again in home in 2012...and we're happy to have him.
The Herd are 30-22, two-and-a-half games back of Pawtucket in the North. For the first time since the Mets have been affiliated with Buffalo, they're winning, and Pascucci is a gigantic part of the equation.
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