Just two short summers ago, AJ Candelario was starring as a pitcher for the CGI Monsoons as they pushed to win an ABCCL championship, but fell just shy of that goal. Now, Candelario is making waves in minor league circuits, as the pitcher has showcased promising velocity and off-speed pitches that just might see him called up to the big leagues eventually.

After starring on the mound at Miami Dade Community College for the past two seasons, Candelario received a call from the Miami Marlins in February that earned him his first minor league contract. He was assigned to the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Marlins A Ball affiliate. This was quite the feat for Candelario, as most newly-signed players out of college are assigned to rookie ball for their first season. He would go on to make seven appearances with the Hammerheads, but he struggled as he posted an 0-2 record with a 6.23 ERA. His stuff was there, but Candelario had trouble with his command and experienced players at the A ball level made him pay. Candelario was released by the Hammerheads on May 11th, but that would not be the end of the road for him.

Candelario showed resilience and grit to continue improving his arsenal until another big-league opportunity arose. His talents did not go unnoticed as just a couple weeks later on May 25th, Candelario was signed by the Nationals to a minor league contract and sent to their rookie ball affiliate in the Florida Complex League.

After waiting and dreaming of another big league opportunity, Candelario has taken advantage of it. Since joining the Nationals, Candelario has made six appearances and he’s been stellar, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.35 ERA. He has changed speeds exceptionally and has shown all the ability that made him a stand out at both the high school and college level.

If Candelario finishes out the season strong, it is likely that he will get another crack at A ball. He hopes to continue his development and thrive when he gets a second chance at a higher level. If Candelario has shown us anything, it is that he has an unrelenting work ethic and the willpower to succeed no matter the circumstances. I am excited to see what he can do going forward as one of the ABCCL’s finest progresses through the minor leagues. Hopefully, we will see him at a major league ballpark soon.