TROY — In a turn of events that can only be described as fortuitous, outfielder John Mead went from being released by the Frontier League’s worst team, the Empire State Greys, to becoming a member of the Tri-City ValleyCats and competing for a playoff spot.
This incredible transformation was made possible by Mead’s self-confidence and a short walk from the visiting locker room at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium to the office of ValleyCats manager Pete Incaviglia.
Mead expressed his excitement about the change in atmosphere, stating, “Oh, man, it’s a completely different atmosphere. It’s fun, I really look forward to coming to the ballpark every day. Great group of guys we’ve got here. We’ve got some serious talent.”
Originally from New Jersey, Mead spent the first 31 games of the season on the road with the Greys, a travel team. It was during their game against the ValleyCats in Troy that Mead received the news of his release from Empire State manager Mark Mason.
Despite batting a respectable .264 with six homers, Mead was being let go to make room for more pitching, according to Mason. The Greys had a dismal 10-36 record when they suffered an 18-4 loss to Tri-City the previous night.
Mead explained his response to the news, saying, “I hate to sound cocky here, but guys were shocked that I was released and I literally had a smile on my face. I was kind of relieved because, honestly, the travel is tough. It beats you down, and not ever having someone cheer for you, too, is another tough thing. I just had a feeling someone else was going to pick me up.”
After retrieving his gear from the visiting locker room at Bruno Stadium, Mead initially planned to head back to Tupper Lake, where the Greys had a practice field, to retrieve his car. However, before leaving, he decided to say goodbye to ValleyCats pitcher Dwayne Marshall, a former travel teammate from their days in New Jersey.
In a spur-of-the-moment decision, Mead asked Marshall if it would be a bad idea to go talk to ValleyCats manager Incaviglia. Marshall encouraged him to give it a try.
Mead sought out Incaviglia’s office in the home clubhouse, fully aware that this was a long shot. He inquired about the team’s need for another outfielder and made it clear that he harbored no hard feelings if they couldn’t accommodate him.
Surprisingly, the ValleyCats only had two outfielders listed on their roster. After asking Mead for the reason behind his release, Incaviglia swiftly made a decision. He picked up the phone and called Mason while Mead stood there anxiously.
On the spot, Incaviglia arranged a trade with the Greys to complete a previous transaction.
Overwhelmed by the turn of events, Mead said, “My eyes popped out of my head. He hangs up the phone and says, ‘Welcome to the ValleyCats.’ He stands up and he’s shirtless, and I just give him a hug. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, thank you so much.’ Here I am now. It’s kind of a crazy story.”
Mead made his debut with the ValleyCats in their game against Ottawa, which was their final match before the All-Star break. Although they lost 8-4, Mead had a sacrifice fly.
The 25-year-old Mead has played for four different colleges, showcasing his willingness to explore opportunities. He briefly played for Williamsport in the MLB Draft League last summer and even considered giving up baseball.
Reflecting on that period, Mead said, “It was kind of miserable. It wasn’t really fun anymore. I think I was putting too much pressure on myself.”
He took a job with AT&T in the fall, attempting to persuade people to switch carriers. However, Mead realized that he hated the job and longed to play baseball again.
Now, he finds himself on a winning team with a home clubhouse and his own locker next to Marshall’s.
Expressing his excitement, Mead said, “It’s very exciting. I just love this opportunity.”
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