Baseball rebirth: Pioneer League's top hitter is perseverant PaddleHead outfielder Mike Rosario (2024)

MISSOULA — Back in January, Mike Rosario was selling medical devices in Florida with no apparent future in baseball.

He sent out texts and emails to over 120 professional scouts, just hoping for a nibble. His .321 batting average as a Florida International outfielder in 2023 must surely be worth an opportunity somewhere, he surmised — even if it did come on the heels of labrum surgery that required 11 anchors.

"After the surgery, my doctor texted me and said congrats Mike, you broke the record for most (sutures) I've ever had to put in anyone's shoulder," Rosario joked.

Fast forward to this week. Rosario has not only surpassed his best college days at the plate by a longshot, the Missoula PaddleHeads catalyst leads the Pioneer League in hitting with a .417 average.

"Six months ago, if you would have asked me if I was going to be playing baseball, I would have said no," Rosario offered. "I had a regular job, living the regular life.

"I got an opportunity to come up here and I had nothing to lose. I just decided I'm going to enjoy every moment and take every day as a new opportunity. That's been my biggest thing. Really nothing mechanical with my swing. It's all just been my mindset. It's taken me to another level."

It's hard to believe now that so many in the baseball world would ignore Rosario for close to a year when he was willing to play anywhere. The 6-foot-1 lefty outfielder put together a playing video and reached out to all of his baseball connections.

Fortunately for the 24-year-old, two of those are PaddleHeads outfielder Alec Sanchez and infielder Kamron Willman, both of whom are former Rosario teammates. They put Mike in touch with Missoula manager Michael Schlact.

"Schlact has been literally the best person I could have possibly reached out to and been involved with," Rosario said. "It's God's plan I guess.

"Schlact is a guy that cares way more about who you are than how well you play. I think that's the right way to go about it. He saw who I was as a person and accepted me with open arms."

Given Rosario's bloodlines, it's perhaps not surprising he's lighting up the Pioneer League. His cousin is Amed Rosario, a shortstop who was on the Los Angeles Dodgers' active roster up until this week when he was cut loose to make room for the return of previously injured Mookie Betts.

Mike texts Amed from time to time and the latter responds with baseball advice. Mike has also benefitted from his father, who embraces baseball and is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, where the sport is king. Mike was able to visit the region on many occasions and learn from experienced baseball standouts.

The one area where Rosario feels he has improved as a technician at the plate is keeping his head still. It's an underrated part of hitting but very important in Mike's mind.

"I used to have a lot of head movement, going back and then back-forward," the Florida native shared. "Keeping my head as still as I can has helped me see the ball longer and a lot better."

Rosario feels fortunate to be a part of the winningest team in the PBL. The PaddleHeads have already secured a September playoff berth and they're doing their best to stay sharp with the most important games a month away.

"It's unreal. I've never played on a team —and I think everybody else can say the same —that's this good," he said. "There's no big egos, everybody gets along well.

"Our goal is to win a championship."

On Wednesday night, Rosario and the PaddleHeads pummeled the Great Falls Voyagers at Ogren-Allegiance Park, 18-7. The hosts piled up 15 hits to six for the visitors.

Leadoff hitter Patrick Chung paced Missoula with three hits, all singles, and Rosario, Adam Fogel, Cam Thompson and Carlos Perez all had two hits. Fogel, Collin Runge and Colin Gordon each had a home run.

Fogel tied the PBL single-season record with his 32nd round-tripper. He shares the record with his friend and former PaddleHeads first baseman Jayson Newman, who did his damage in the 2022 season.

Zootown's pro baseball team boosted its league-best record to 55-19. Great Falls has the worst record in the 12-team league at 25-49.

Alfredo Villa (7-1) earned the win. The 2023 PBL Pitcher of the Year allowed four runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Christian Ciuffetelli tossed two scoreless innings in relief and Ethan Swanson and Albert Cuello-Batista each pitched in with one scoreless frame.

Missoula scored all the runs it needed in the first four innings, jumping to a 13-2 lead. A total of 1,452 fans turned out for the contest.

Thursday's scheduled game between the PaddleHeads and Voyagers in Missoula was postponed due to rain. That game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday starting at 5 p.m.