Jeffrey Passantino

Jeffrey Passantino

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 225 lb.

• School Lipscomb University
• High School Bishop Verot High School

• Born September 24, 1995 in Fort Myers, FL USA

BR register page

Biographical Information

Jeffrey Passantino has pitched in the minor leagues and for the Italian national team.

Passantino was 15th in US high schools in strikeouts in 2014. He was 5-1 with a 2.69 ERA as a college freshman and 6-5 with a 3.40 ERA as a sophomore, tying for second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in wins and third with 82 K (against just 12 BB). He was 13th in NCAA Division I in lowest walk rate. He was 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA in the Cape Cod League, winning the Most Outstanding Pitcher award. He had a 4-3, 3.49 record as a junior, finishing 7th in the conference with 95 K.

He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 40th round of the 2017 Amateur Draft, the final pick of the draft. The scout was Alex McClure. He recorded a 3.10 ERA in 11 games for the AZL Cubs in his first year. His ERA was 3.19 in 8 games for the Eugene Emeralds in 2018, and he pitched another 8 games for the South Bend Cubs with a 3.41 ERA. He was a combined 9-1 with 76 K to 13 BB in 72 2/3 IP. He tied Tyson Miller, Michael Rucker, Matt Swarmer and Keegan Thompson for the most wins by a Cubs farmhand that summer. Passantino went 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA in South Bend in 2019, and he pitched 7 games with a 2.00 ERA for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He also had 2 appearances for both the Tennessee Smokies and Iowa Cubs.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the AAA portion of the 2020 Rule V Draft, and he was 1-8 with a 4.62 ERA for the Altoona Curve in 2021. He started his 2022 season on the 60-day injured list, so he only pitched 19 games with a 3.92 ERA for the Curve in that season. Passantino had a 1.77 ERA in 12 games for the Gigantes de Carolina in the winter, and the Pirates released him before the 2023 season. Passantino also made it onto Italy's roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, but he didn't pitch any games.

In 92 minor league games, he had gone 21-13 with a save and a 3.73 ERA, striking out 318 and walking 60 in 306 1/3 innings.