For a long time, Danny Almonte has wanted to get validation as an elite baseball player.
Ever since his reputation was tarnished when he became embroiled in the Little League scandal five years ago, people have been skeptical of just how good the 19-year-old southpaw really is.
His high school coach, Mike Turo, believes Almonte got it two years ago when he pitched James Monroe to the PSAL title. He got some more yesterday when he was named to the All-American Baseball Game presented by PlayStation, set for June 7 in Albuquerque.
“All that stuff is in the past,” said Almonte, whose Rolando Paulino Little League team from The Bronx had to forfeit its games when it was learned Almonte was 14 years old and not 12. “Now I play with players my own age.”
But as is fitting with Almonte’s history, there could a problem. State rules prohibit players from participating in all-star games while their sport is still in season. Since the PSAL title game isn’t until June 9, if Almonte or Grand Street’s Dellin Betances – who was also picked for the game – plays in Albuquerque, he could be ineligible for the championship game should they make it that far.
PSAL officials said they would check with the state today for a decision.
“If Danny’s not allowed to play, that would be a shame,” Turo said. “We’ll have to go and watch.”
As Monroe prepares for the start of next week’s PSAL playoffs, it’s clear Almonte is more than simply a name people remember because of the scandal.
A pair of scouts were on hand to see Almonte one-hit Walton in a 10-0, five-inning win yesterday at Taft H.S. With baseball’s draft less than a month away, his pro prospects are still in question. He hurt his chances last year when he and his father left Monroe for a school in Florida. He had transferred in hopes of playing there but couldn’t, since eligibility rules required that he live there for a year.
“I needed to do two times as good this year as I would have,” said Almonte, who is no longer in contact with Paulino or his father, who lives in the Dominican Republic.
Almonte routinely throws in the mid-to-high 80s and occasionally hits the low 90s. He’s talked to several major league teams, but could wind up at New Mexico Junior College.
A run at another PSAL championship would help his cause, but the Eagles were recently dealt a blow when center fielder Rafael Cabreja was ruled academically ineligible. It’s the second straight year the senior, who could be drafted in the teens next month, has failed off the team late in the season.
