John Rooney was in the right place at the right time

Right place right time is a saying that’s been around for a long time and some people live it first-hand. For Jacksonville southpaw, John Rooney being at the right place at the right time put him on the map.

A lot of high school and college prospects attempt to play summer ball and catch on with some notable leagues to garner attention of college and professional scouts. Some will play for USA baseball, others will play at Perfect Game showcases among other leagues and showcases. Some families will travel coast to coast to get their kids notoriety.

“Me and my family knew I had talent but we didn’t really know how to go through the process” explained Rooney. “We always went by the idea of, if you’re good, they’ll find you.”

Rooney grew up in Melrose, New York playing on the fields at Chapko Stadium. Although he did receive an offer to play at Siena College, he wanted to branch out and try to get out of his hometown for college. Although he didn’t find a notable league to play in to get the attention of scouts and land a potential offer, he found a path all his own that is vastly different from the norm.

“An opportunity came up that wasn’t for college at all, it was just to have fun playing in the summer” smiled Rooney. “The Albany Twilight League was a men’s league and I got picked up to play for a state title for a men’s league and I was 16 or 17. They were guys that just got off work and wanted to play ball because they love the game. One guy that was on a team we played against was a retired Yankees pitcher.”

It was in the Albany Twilight League where Rooney shined and made his mark, against players that were more mature and more seasoned.

In a league and a stadium that were off the beat and path, Rooney was discovered almost like a needle in a haystack.

“Hofstra University was at the game doing some fundraising and they saw me pitch against these men that just got off work and I was doing well, striking them out and getting the job done. They said this kid doesn’t look anywhere close to their age, who is this kid?”

Within two weeks, Rooney went on a visit and signed a commitment to play for Hostra. “I threw seven innings, and I just wanted to have fun and instead it ended up getting my life on the path to this point through Hofstra.”

Being one of the youngest players in that men’s league, Rooney learned a lot from his teammates and matured just being around them. He pitched for three seasons for the Pride. After posting a 1.23 ERA in 95.0 innings in 2018, he was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2018 draft.

After spending six seasons with the Dodgers organization, the closest he’s ever pitched professionally to his family came in 2018 when he was a part of the Great Lakes Loons.

Rooney returned to the state of New York for the first time as a professional baseball player with the Marlins organization on June 18. He struck out three batters in 1.1 innings of relief work against the Syracuse Mets.

That was the first time he pitched professionally in front of his family and just a few hours away from where he grew up and where it all started… on a field, in the middle of the woods as a 17-year-old teenager pitching against grown men in the Albany Twilight League.