RICHMOND, Ky. – Former Eastern Kentucky pitcher Anthony Bazzani recently finished his first season in professional baseball.
 
At two minor league levels, Bazzani went 1-2 and posted a 2.79 ERA with seven saves.
 
In June, Bazzani signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to Arizona's rookie team in the Arizona League.  He made eight appearances for Phoenix, allowing two earned runs in seven and two-thirds innings.  He had an 0-1 record with a 2.35 ERA and three saves. 
 
In July he earned a promotion to Arizona's rookie team in Missoula, a member of the Pioneer League.  The Stockbridge, Georgia native appeared in 11 games for the Ospreys.  He went 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA and four saves.  Bazzani made nine appearances without allowing a run.  All four of the runs he gave up came in two appearances.
 
In 19 and one-third innings of work combined for both teams, Bazzani struck out 20 batters and walked only six.  Opposing batters hit just .176 against the 6-foot-4 right-hander. 
 
Bazzani was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 31st round of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, but decided to return to EKU for his senior season.  In his fourth start of the 2013 season he suffered an arm injury and missed the remainder of the season. 
 
He was granted a sixth year of eligibility and capped his Colonel career by making 17 relief appearances during the 2014 season.  Bazzani finished the campaign with an 0-1 record, a 4.30 ERA and a team-best six saves.  He had 12 strikeouts in 14 and two-thirds innings of work.  Opposing batters hit just .245 against Bazzani.  He held opponents scoreless in 12 of his 17 trips to the mound.
 
Following his junior season, Bazzani dominated the Northwoods Summer League.  He went 2-1 with a 1.76 ERA while striking out 47 in 30 and two-thirds innings of work.  He was chosen as a Northwoods League top prospect by PerfectGame.org and Baseball America.