Major Leaguer resume Vol.98/ WBC Player’s resume Vol.84: Matthew Festa(Seattle Mariners) : Major Candidate for Team Italy: “Flexible Reliever!!”

■Today’s player
Today's player's resume concerns the Seattle Mariners' reliever, Matthew Festa. Festa was born in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the preliminary rosters for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Italy is scheduled to have its first game against Cuba at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Twaian, on March 9.

■The KAISPO's baseball analyst comments
"Festa is a flexible reliever to pitch in all situations. He appeared in 53 games in 2022. Festa debuted from Double-A to help the Mariners, who were strong before the All-Star break. He has two pitches: a four-seam and slider, using the combination of the two very well. But I'm concerned about his ERA of 4.17 and his form of stepping forward early on the first base side. Adding an off-speed arsenal to his repertoire would be more effective. In 2022, the Mariners' pitching staff was inspired mainly by their starter, improving the team's ERA from 4.30 in 2021 to 3.59. The good relief effort by Festa's pitching in the late innings of games is essential to stabilize their bullpen."

■Story
The Mariners selected Festa with the 207th overall selection in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB draft.

The right-hander was added to the Mariners' bullpen from Double-A Arkansas Travelers on July 14, 2018, and debuted against the Colorado Rockies that day. Festa replaced Seattle's starter Wade Leblanc with one out in the fifth inning with one runner on the third base, giving up two hits and one run scored in 2/3 frames. He appeared in 8.1 innings over eight contests, including one start, going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA and four strikeouts in his debut year.

Festa underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2020 and played in the minors in 2021.

In 2022, the 29-year-old reliever pitched in 53 games(54 innings pitched), posting 2-0 with a 4.17 ERA and 64 strikeouts and picking up his first two wins and saves of his big league career.

■MLB Career Stats
The Brooklyn, New York native has logged 2-2 with a 4.36 ERA, two saves, and 89 strikeouts over 81 games covering 84.2 innings in his MLB career at the end of the 2022 campaign.
(MLB No.404 KAISPO No.1584)