NEW YORK -- For two years, Mets scout Rosario Chiovaro watched Matteo Marelli compete at Major League Baseball’s European Development Tournament (EDT) in London. At that time, Marelli was still just a raw, teenage pitcher, far from a legitimate MLB prospect. He did not yet stand out in meaningful ways.
With their recent investments in international infrastructure, however, the Mets have more resources than ever to commit to the scouting of such players. Three months ago, when Chiovaro showed up to the EDT in Barcelona, he noticed Marelli’s fastball velocity had jumped from the mid-80s to as high as 94 mph. His changeup looked like a legitimate weapon. It was enough for Chiovaro to reach out to Marelli’s father, who is also his agent.
Two months later, the 19-year-old Marelli is set to become the first European amateur signing in Mets history. He and the Mets will make their agreement official at a small ceremony Saturday in Rovigo, Italy.
“What I’m most proud about is the Mets are expanding their global footprint,” Chiovaro said. “I want the Mets to be a global brand.”
Unlike many premier athletes in Europe, Marelli never showed much interest in youth soccer, basketball, hockey or other locally popular sports. The son of a ski instructor, he instead gravitated toward baseball, and specifically to the mound. Over the years, the right-handed Marelli developed five distinct pitches, including a kick change he perfected by watching social media videos.
“It’s easy to see when somebody’s different from other people, from other players,” said Francisco Cervelli, a longtime Major League catcher and current head coach of Italy’s national teams, including Marelli’s U-23 squad. “You see a future. It’s a very interesting player. And the arm … [Once he starts] training every day, you’re going to see results very quickly.”
Scouting Europeans can be a difficult enterprise, given their short baseball seasons and lack of opportunities against high-level competition. Unlike elite Latin American teenagers, who typically sign their first contracts at 16 then spend years maturing under the guidance of professional coaches, Europeans must either leave home to attend a foreign college, or otherwise prove themselves in domestic leagues and the occasional international event.
Marelli did earn a scholarship to Arizona Western College, but Mets officials believe he has the type of makeup to handle a transition straight to professional baseball.
Earlier this month, the Mets invited Marelli to the Dominican Republic, where Chiovaro watched him having “full-blown conversations with Latin Americans in Spanish.” His English, according to Chiovaro, is even more polished. He enjoys playing chess, a game he considers similar to the art of pitching. More than anything, he was willing to uproot his life for a $10,000 contract and a chance at pursuing his dream.
“Oftentimes, the kids that we’re signing in Latin America, this is their only avenue. It’s baseball or poverty,” Chiovaro said. “Matteo is an interesting case, because it’s not that. He has other options. He can go to college in Europe, and he could pursue any other avenue. But he’s taking obviously a modest bonus to go halfway across the world to try to be a professional baseball player. I think that speaks volumes to how much he loves the sport and what his ultimate goal is.”
Once he formally joins the Mets, Marelli will begin his professional career in the Dominican Summer League, playing alongside mostly Latin American teenagers. His challenges will include acclimating to the culture and the weather. If Marelli succeeds, he will eventually make his way to full-season ball in Florida, with an eye toward one day reaching Queens.
Saturday’s ceremony marks the start of a historic journey for both player and team. Since Steve Cohen purchased the Mets in 2020, he has made significant investments in many areas of the organization, including international scouting. Recently, the team augmented its presence in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Earlier this year, the Mets signed Dominican teenager Elian Peña to a $5 million deal, a franchise record for an international free agent. MLB has simultaneously increased its own investment in international markets, with events like the London Series and the EDT raising awareness and smoothing the path for European amateurs.
For Chiovaro, a Mets scout since 2020 and the son of an Italian immigrant, the agreement with Marelli is especially poignant. In prior years, the Mets have acquired a smattering of European players by way of either an American college, a domestic independent league or another big league organization. They have never signed a European amateur directly from the continent.
“I’m super proud to bring an Italian into the organization for the first time,” Chiovaro said. “I hope that Matteo goes back and tells his teammates and tells his coach how well we treated him, and I think that can help the Mets moving forward -- just that we’re going to have a global footprint and a global impact in more markets.”