For baseball fans outside of Rhode Island, the name Thomas Pannone probably doesn’t set off any bells upon first chime. Pannone was a Rhode Island High School baseball legend at a legendary high school, Bishop Hendricken High School in the early 2010s. He is listed as the Providence Journal’s top high school baseball player for the 2000-2010 decade. Pannone was drafted out of high school (33rd Round, Chicago Cubs) but chose to go to college instead, attending the College of Southern Nevada. After a successful stint in college, Pannone moved up 24 rounds and was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 9th round in 2013. So, Rhode Island high school baseball had itself a professional baseball player with a ton of upside and a very bright future in one Thomas Pannone.
Here is the reality of professional baseball. There are hundreds upon thousands of Thomas Pannones that have become professional baseball players from all over the United States and the world. A small town phenom, playing lights out baseball, attracts the attention of college scouts, maybe pro scouts, gets his big shot in a state tournament or national showcase event. The history of professional baseball has a million of these stories that appear to be written by some screenwriter on the set of “Bull Durham.” And the reality is, most don’t make it above the Double-A level of the Minor Leagues. A few sneak into the Triple-A level, which is one rung below the ultimate prize of the Major Leagues. A special and select few get a cup of coffee or a call up or a short stint on the Major League roster due to an injury or an expanded roster or a spot start. For these phenoms, the story of their professional baseball journey is often years, sometimes a decade or more, of grinding away in the minor leagues, being optioned, being traded, being designated for assignment, giving it a go with another team, maybe going overseas, and ultimately being patient with their shot at the Major Leagues. Need an example, check out Thomas Pannone’s transaction sheet on his mlb.com page:
And so, if you are a fan of a phenom from your home state or maybe your home town, and you see news like this, you tend to get excited for your home state, your hometown, and your Thomas Pannone, or in this case the actual Thomas Pannone from Cranston, RI and Bishop Hendricken High School, RI.
Thomas Pannone was called up from AAA Nashville this week to pitch a Wednesday game for the Milwaukee Brewers vs. the San Francisco Giants. Interestingly enough, the player Pannone replaced was Garrett Stallings. Stallings is from the area I live in now (Southeastern VA, Chesapeake) and Pannone is where I used to live (Rhode Island), just another example of the cosmic connecting thread of baseball. Pannone last pitch in the Major Leagues in 2023 and has been a consistent LHP for the Brewers minor league AAA Affiliate this season, posting a 4-1 record in 16 starts, 72 innings. Here is the lineup card for Wednesday’s game:
So, how did he do? In my opinion, awesome because anytime you are on the mound pitching in a Major League game it is awesome. And given his journey and his decade plus of service in professional baseball, it is also another word – inspiring. From a Brewers fan’s perspective, maybe not so hot. Pannone started and went 3 full innings, giving up a 3-run home run in the 2nd inning, walking 2, striking out 2 before exiting. The Brewers staff as a whole on Wednesday was sub-par to be fair. After Pannone exited, the Giants scored an additional 13 runs to pile on to a thrashing 16-3 win over the Brewers. Pannone took the loss in the box score, but scored a major win for the grinding, patient minor leaguers he represented on Wednesday. Here is some additional coverage on mlb.com on Wednesday’s game – Pannone start in SF.
Will Pannone get another start when his spot in the rotation comes up? According to Pannone’s news and transactions page on mlb.com, no move has been made as of this morning (07/31/26), so for now Pannone is a Milwaukee Brewer. Spot starts are typically short stints in the Major Leagues for Minor Leaguers but who knows? Regardless of whether Pannone stays with the big club or goes back down to the minor leagues, he has proven that hard work, patience, determination, grinding towards your goals, and being ready when your name is called give you the chance, albeit slim chance, of getting up to or back to the ultimate goal – a spot on a Major League roster and for Pannone – a chance to pitch on a Major League mound again. Awesome story that continues to be written, congratulations to Thomas Pannone and his family.
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