Phillies Breakthrough Reliever Has Beaten All The Odds

Not too long ago, he was selling suits at Bloomingdale's in San Diego. Now the role of solid Philadelphia Phillies middle reliever suits him better. 30-year-old Andrew Bellatti has beaten all the odds to make it back to the big leagues after tragic circumstances derailed his career. 

As detailed by Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Bellatti spent three months in jail in the early 2010s for a tragic vehicular manslaughter incident, then when he was ready to return to baseball mid-decade, he suffered an injury that required Tommy John surgery and missed two more seasons. 

While he rehabbed during that time, he needed a job, so he took one as a suit salesman at the Bloomingdale's at Fashion Valley Mall in his hometown. "I was very good at it," Bellatti told Gelb. 

But he was much more suited to throwing baseballs, and after a brief 3-game appearance with the Miami Marlins in 2021, Bellatti signed with the Phillies this offseason. 

Andrew Bellatti records 2 Ks in the 8th inning! pic.twitter.com/6cEkHaoJL1

— Brodes Media (@BrodesMedia) April 27, 2022

In five innings this season in middle relief, he's looked the part, allowing just one run, with 8 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA. “I love the game,” Bellatti, 30, said. “I know I’m good at it. I feel comfortable in the clubhouse. I know it’s a lot of hard work. It’s just staying dedicated.”

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports