Wild Things right fielder Liquori was once a pitcher
Jeff Liquori saw himself as a pitcher. Liquori’s coaches, at every level that he played, saw Liquori as a pitcher. Aren’t all left-handed baseball players given a shot at being a pitcher? After all, southpaw pitchers are one of the most coveted commodities in baseball.
Liquori, the Wild Things’ right fielder, was good enough as pitcher in his hometown of Lake Mary, Fla., that he earned a spot on the team at Florida Southern University, a powerhouse NCAA Division II program.
“In my junior year of high school, as a pitcher, I won the Cy Young (award) for my team and committed to Florida Southern,” Liquori pointed out. “My senior year got cut short because of Covid.
“My first year at Florida Southern, I got a little work as a pitcher, but because there were so many older guys who came back because they were given the extra year after COVID, I got overlooked. I didn’t get the opportunity that I wanted as a pitcher.”
After Liquori spent a forgettable season at Florida Southern as a pitcher, one of the Moccasins’ coaches, who thought that Liquori might have more potential as a hitter than a pitcher, suggested he pick up a bat.
“That summer our hitting coach told me to start taking swings. I took (batting practice) and hit a lot of home runs during BP and he came back and said we’ll give you a shot at hitting in the fall. I ended up being their everyday first baseman that year and hit in the leadoff spot.”
Liquori’s dream of making it as a pitcher ended.
“Growing up, I saw myself as a pitcher. After that first year as a hitter, I saw myself as a hitter,” Liquori said.
Liquori spent two years as Florida Southern’s first baseman before transferring to Florida International for his final season. With FIU, Liquori played both right field and first base.
Last summer, he played for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League. While playing in Morgantown, Liquori caught the attention of Wild Things manager Tom Vaeth. And social media had something to do with that.
“We follow the Draft League on social media and Jeff was a kid who was close to us that kept popping up on my Instagram reels. Late last season, I jumped in the car and went to Morgantown to see him play. He reminds me of a player I coached in Winnipeg (Josh Romanski) so we jumped on him quickly after the season. He’s fit right in.”
Liquori batted .298 with seven home runs in 69 games for the Black Bears. With the Wild Things, he got off to a fast start, setting the franchise single-game record with seven RBI against Florence in May. Entering Washington’s series opener Friday night against Lake Erie, he was batting .254 and hit his sixth home run in the Wild Things’ 8-7 win Wednesday over Evansville.
“I feel like I’m still behind some guys my age because I didn’t start being a hitter until I was in college,” Liquori admitted. “But I like playing right field. I like being in the outfield. In the preseason, I robbed a guy of a home run. That’s always fun to do.”
It was so much fun that he did it again in a game during the most recent road trip, in a game at Lake Erie.
“I’m a baseball player,” Liquori said. “Wherever they put me, I’ll do my best.”