(Story courtesy of Trinity University)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Former Trinity University baseball shortstop Christian Muscarello has signed a contract with Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Muscarello, who graduated from Trinity this past May, joins the Johnson City (TN) Cardinals of the Appalachian League.
Last season, Muscarello batted .319 (53-156) for the Tigers, along with collecting 29 RBI, 39 runs, 11 doubles, and three home runs. Muscarello is listed among the top-20 hitters in the Trinity record books, posting a .343 career batting average.
Muscarello was named to the All-Tournament Team of the McMinnville (OR) NCAA Division III Regional. He hit .500 (4-8) with a double and run scored for the tournament, leading the Tigers in batting. Trinity competed in the NCAA Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, losing both of its games at the Regional. The Tigers were edged 3-2 against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and 4-1 to defending NCAA champion Linfield College.
The postseason honors kept coming for Muscarello, who was elected to the All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference team for the fourth consecutive year. Muscarello was selected for the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Team in 2011 and 2013, and for the D3Baseball.com All-Region Team in 2012.
Trinity finished the campaign with a 33-10 overall record under Head Coach Tim Scannell, who led the team to its eighth SCAC Championship, and ninth appearance in the NCAA Playoffs during his 16 years with the program.
Over the last month, three other Tiger players have also received notoriety in the pro baseball ranks. Pitcher Ben Klimesh was promoted to the Cincinnati Reds Class Double-A affiliate Pensacola (FL) Blue Wahoos. Kyle Bogese, also a pitcher, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies Gulf Coast League Phillies. Catcher Chris Bianchi became a member of the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball Teams.