Former Rockland Boulder Stephen Cardullo Promoted By Colorado Rockies

Stephen Cardullo

After the Rockland Boulders clinched their third straight trip to the Can-Am League playoffs on Thursday night, word came that former Boulder Stephen Cardullo had been promoted to the Colorado Rockies 25-man active roster. Cardullo became the first player in Rockland’s franchise history to be promoted to a major league team.

Making his major league debut against the Washington Nationals wearing number 65, batting second in the lineup and playing first base, Cardullo ended up going 0-for-3 with a walk.

Prior to his call-up, Cardullo batted .308 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI’s in 115 games with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.

In his final season with the Boulders, Cardullo was named the Can-Am League MVP batting .331 with nine home runs, 76 RBI, 34 doubles, 10 triples, 23 stolen bases, 158 runs scored and a .518 slugging percentage. He holds numerous franchise records including 297 games played, 1071 at bats, 320 hits, 82 doubles, 183 RBI, 108 walks and 50 stolen bases. During the 2014 championship series against the New Jersey Jackals, Cardullo hit three home runs along with seven RBI.

A former All-American at Florida State, Cardullo was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Released after two seasons of Rookie Ball in the Pioneer League with Missoula, Cardullo ended up splitting time in the Frontier League for the London (Ontario) Rippers and Florence (Ky.) Freedom.

“It’s amazing what persistence can do and a great story,” manager Jamie Keefe said. “More importantly he came here and too care of business and able to go out every day and make himself better for the past four years and it paid off. He continues to get better by putting the work in and works year round by honing in those skills and a fantastic athlete who can play both corners in the infield and outfield. He is not a September call-up but on the 25-man roster. I wouldn’t put it past him to become an everyday player and utility man in the big leagues.”

On what Cardullo’s promotion means to Keefe personally and for the organization, “I wish I could put it into words and you hold it dear to your heart. There are days when you drop 11 in a row and days when it’s freezing getting ready to start spring and indoor training in May but you think back today on the field when you know a guy who was in uniform 347 days ago for you is playing in Washington tonight starting at first base and wearing number 65 for the Colorado Rockies is special.”

“I think it starts with the hard work everyone puts in from the front office to the club house on a daily basis, Keefe continued. “We go about our jobs on a daily basis because it’s our world and number two what we enjoy doing. I think the important part it shows the players that have been around here for two or three years, Junior Arrojo, Marcus Nidiffer, Richard Salazar and Jared McDonald. Everybody comes back to get that one chance with an organization and line up to play in the big leagues. You don’t know who is watching and when they are watching. He (Stephen Cardullo) is one of the luck ones and well deserved because he put his hard work in.”