Anthony Seratelli Enjoys Another Title
10/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 17, 2013
Former Seton Hall baseball player Anthony Seratelli, a 2005 graduate, helped lead the Omaha Storm Chasers, an AAA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, to the 2013 Pacific Coast League championship for a second straight year. It's another major milestone for an impressive baseball career that started 11 years ago in South Orange.
Despite a 70-74 regular season record, the Storm Chasers squeezed into the playoffs by virtue of winning the American Northern Division and completed their improbable run with a 10-5 victory over Salt Lake in game four of the best-of-five championship series.
Seratelli, starting in right field for Omaha and batting third, went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in the clinching victory.
"It's a great feeling to be a champion again," Seratelli said. "In many ways this title was sweeter because of the way we got into the playoffs and rode the momentum to a championship. We didn't have a dominant regular season like we did last year, but we played well late, snuck in the playoffs, won the PCL and then a national championship. I'll remember this run forever."
The championship caps a second straight impressive season for Seratelli on the triple-A level. The Edison, N.J. native batted .273 in 120 games with 11 home runs, fourth-most on the team, 61 runs scored, third-most on the team, 24 stolen bases, second-most on the team, and a team-best 81 walks.
As impactful as Seratelli has been on the field for the Storm Chasers, his influence off the field is equally impressive. Several well-known Royals prospects such as Will Myers, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer have recently made their way through Omaha, but only Seratelli has his own "town." "TelliTown" is an area at Werner Park created by a group of devout season-ticket holders with the sole purpose of supporting and cheering on their favorite Storm Chaser. This passionate group has even made signs and t-shirts to proudly boast their residence.
  | |
"The fans' support in Omaha has been really amazing," Seratelli said. "They've really gone all-out with "Telli-Town." It has a mayor, a judge, even a janitor, all loyal fans that sit in a special section of the park and cheer us on. Even with all the big names that have recently gone through Omaha, they've taken a liking to me and it's truly humbling."
Contributing to his popularity, Seratelli has turned what was a passionate hobby into a potential post-baseball career option... video production. The fledgling communications entrepreneur has written, produced and shot countless videos, many of which can be found on YouTube, under his company name, ARS Productions. The humorous videos have provided another snapshot of Seratelli's likeable personality which has only further endeared him to his fans.
"ArS*1 Productions has turned from a fun hobby into what I'd like to do full-time when my baseball career is over," Seratelli said. "I've always enjoyed filming and editing videos and the quality of my work has steadily increased as my equipment has improved. Every ballplayer has a niche off the field. Some guys like to play music, others write, I like to make videos. I think I'm pretty unique in that respect and that'll hopefully help me in the end."
Seratelli's play and popularity helped earned him the title of "2013 Hitter of the Year," a prestigious award voted on by the Storm Chaser faithful.
His stardom in Omaha however, and his perch on the doorstep of the Major Leagues hasn't come easily. The Seton Hall graduate wasn't selected in Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft and had to spend a season with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier league in 2006 before getting noticed by the Kansas City organization. Seratelli was jettisoned to the Royals' Rookie League team, in Idaho Falls, Id., where he batted .327 with 10 home runs.
"Since the day I started playing baseball, I wanted to become a Major Leaguer, and that's really been my motivation to keep working hard throughout the years. I'm not married and I don't have kids, so I don't have anything keeping me from taking all the time necessary to follow this dream. My family and friends have been extremely supportive throughout this journey.
From there, he spent the parts of the next three seasons in single-A before advancing to double-A in 2010. In 2011, Seratelli was named the Royals' Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year and Northwest Arkansas Player of the Year after ranking second in the Texas League in walks, third in runs scored and stolen bases and fourth in on-base percentage and triples.
A significant contributor to Seratelli's ascension through the Royals' farm system has been his ability to play virtually anywhere on the diamond. At Seton Hall, he was a middle infielder. Along his minor league journey he has played at first, third and is currently starting in the outfield.
 | |
"My ability to play all over the field is something that has built over the years," Seratelli said. "Most young players start in the middle infield, where I started, and branch out from there. I've even warmed up pitchers and taken bullpen sessions as a catcher. Although I never got in, during one long game, after a number of pitchers were used, I was warming up in the bullpen to pitch. So I've had a little taste of everything."
Seratelli fondly recalls his days at Seton Hall and credits head coach emeritus Mike Sheppard and current head coach Rob Sheppard for giving his career the foundation needed for him to have a lengthy professional career. Many of the lessons he learned weren't solely baseball related.
"Playing for Shep and R.B., you learn more than baseball," Seratelli said. "They teach you how to become a man... how to become a well-rounded person. I took a lot from my days at Seton Hall, but that is what comes to mind first. They prepare you for life, not just baseball."
Seratelli played for Seton Hall from 2002-05, but started as a walk-on, who had to earn his playing time, and eventually developed into the Pirates' leadoff batter and a lineup regular. The switch-hitter batted .274 with nine home runs, 80 RBIs and 70 stolen bases throughout his four-year Pirate career. A durable player, he currently ranks among Seton Hall's top-10 in games played and at bats.
"He was one of those guys who you knew right away was a leader," said head coach Rob Sheppard. "He was chosen as a captain as a sophomore, which says a lot. Anthony is the type of guy who's worked hard for everything he's got. He was a walk on at Seton Hall and worked his tail off as a freshman. By the time he was a junior or senior, he was an integral part of our everyday lineup. He gets the most out of what he has and that's the way he's always been. Anthony was a good student, great teammate and perfect representative of what we want in a Seton Hall baseball player on and off the field."
Today, Seratelli finds himself a minor league champion again. But at age 30, he knows time is beginning to wane on his major league dreams. Still, the multi-talented, well-liked, super-utility player has high hopes that Kansas City will come calling in 2014.
"It would mean everything to get called up someday," Seratelli said. "It would be the ultimate payoff for all these years of hard work climbing up the system. The way I see it, if get called up soon, and I stay healthy, I've got a good five years left to make my mark...but even if it's just for one day, I'll gladly take it. "
