Adam Cartelli

**Adam Adrian Cartelli** (born November 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Pasadena Coyotes of the American Baseball League (ABL).

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Cartelli has been playing baseball since he was five years old. He played in the Inter-Borough Little League until high school, when he was on his high school's varsity baseball team for four years. At .480, Cartelli had the highest batting average in New York out of the 2012 graduating class, and received a commendation from his district's superintendent for it. He was selected by the Newark Knights with the twentieth overall pick in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft. Cartelli made his MLB debut on August 15, 2014, being sent back to the minors in mid September. He started the 2015 season on the active roster, after a stellar spring training camp at which he batted .362.

From April to June his rookie year, he alternated playing shortstop and second base, permanently settling on shortstop when Knights veteran , Dennis Whitman, prematurely ended his season with acute tendonitis. As a rookie, Cartelli finished with a .314 batting average, 19 home runs, and 62 runs batted in. He was named the Salt League (SL) Rookie of the Year.

## Early Life

Cartelli, an only child, was born to James and Evangeline Cartelli on November 8, 1994, in Brooklyn, New York. His father passed away when Cartelli was six, an experience he has described as "unmooring." He credits his late father for his early interest in baseball, specifically his home team, the Brooklyn Bulls. His mother raised him into her Italian-Catholic faith, but he is no longer observant and claims "[his mother] never really took it that seriously." Baseball was his primary extracurricular growing up, but he has mentioned taking swimming lessons as a child as well.

Although he began playing baseball due to his father's influence, he's stated that his mom kept him in teams year-round, even when she was not a fan herself, as it "kept him from misbehaving." From the ages of five to twelve, Cartelli slept with his fielder's mitt under his pillow. He only stopped because he outgrew his children's glove and his newer mitt wouldn't fit under his pillow anymore. Cartelli played with that same glove from eighth grade until retirement.

## High School

At Madison High School, Cartelli played shortstop and outfield, starting his high school career as the only underclassman on the varsity baseball team. His junior year, during which Cartelli batted .398 with ten doubles, six triples, and eight home runs, Madison High went to the 2011 New York Public High School Athletic Association Baseball Championship, where they were defeated by Curtis High School. The next year, they were defeated by Long Island High School in the semi-finals, for which Cartelli's future teammate and husband Dante Cohn played.

His senior year, Cartelli received the Superintendent's Office Commendation for Outstanding Athleticism on his graduation diploma from his region's office for his record high batting average. Even prior to this, Madison High games would draw crowds of scouts Cartelli's senior year, as he held the longest error-less game streak in any New York Public High School District region at 22 over his junior and senior seasons. He was drafted by the Newark Knights organization in the first round of the 2012 ABL draft, chosen twentieth overall, and signed with a $2.75 million bonus.

## Professional Career

### Minor Leagues

Cartelli started his professional career with the Knights' High A affiliate, the Jersey City Dragons, in 2012, where he carried a .309 batting average. He started the 2013 minor league season on the AA farm team, the Edison Knights, but was quickly moved up to the AAA Pittsburgh Emeralds, for which he played for in the Tri-State League All-Star Game and the ABL All-Star Futures exhibition.