Joe Santoro is serious about his ambitions.
He wants to become a special operations officer in the military. He also wants to change pitching hands in the same inning when it’s important.
It may sound like a fantasy, but he’s acting on both. And he’s really not that far away.
The Carmel senior leaves for West Point on June 27.
Santoro also has been working most of his baseball career on developing his switch-pitching. He hopes to use that skill some time this month or during his baseball career at Army.
“The ultimate goal is to switch-pitch with the handedness of the batter,” said Santoro, a three-year varsity pitcher who also plays outfield. “That is the ultimate goal.
“I’ve always been better one way than the other over the course of a year. I used to be better left-handed, then it switched two or three years ago.”
Santoro is mature beyond his years, according to Corsairs coach Bill Taylor. When Taylor watches Santoro throw in the bullpen, the coach sees equally effective pitches regardless of which arm Santoro uses.
Santoro’s fastballs clock between 86-88 mph from both sides, and he also throws a curveball and a changeup. He believes his upside might be higher as a left-hander because his pitches have more movement.
But there’s a catch. The past two seasons, Santoro’s performance has not translated from the bullpen into games.
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“To be honest, and I have said this to him, I feel more comfortable using him (as a lefty) than he is,” Taylor said. “It is a matter of him trusting it more. Joe is a very bright kid and he is very analytical. Sometimes that can be a hindrance as well. Every pitch you make and every swing you take doesn’t have an answer.
“He is a very high achiever. It is more living up to what others expect. He has said time and again he knows it is a work in progress. But every time you turn around someone is saying, ‘He is the kid who pitches with both hands.’ That puts more on him in terms of expectations and that’s why he doesn’t always trust himself.”
Santoro called Taylor’s analysis “a great answer” to why he’s only pitched 2 1/3 relief innings with his left hand this spring, compared to 22 as a righty.
As much as he wants to switch hands with his special six-fingered glove, he won’t do it at the expense of his team.
“The last thing I want is to be a novelty situation or a circus act instead of providing substance to the team,” Santoro said. “That is the part I want to work on. I think it can be valuable, but right now it is less of a difference-maker.”
It’s what attracted Santoro to the military. A number of colleges teams would have welcomed him on their pitching staffs, but only the Army felt like his calling.
“I went there on a visit and after eight months of contemplation I felt like it was something I have to do rather than chose to do,” Santoro said. “I felt like, ‘If not me, who would do it?’ I think that is the attitude more people need to have in this generation.
“Obviously I am scared of what it could bring, but people become so scared they don’t act. It is something bigger than ourselves and it is something I want to be part of. I think I owe it to the country to give something back.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.