March 27, 2023

By Patrick Hannon

Canadian Baseball Network

DUNEDIN, Fla. – For Michael Turconi, grit is a way of life.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, the left-handed batter has used the city’s cultural identity to form the way he plays the game of baseball.

“Pittsburgh is a really blue-collar town, and that’s probably where I get my grittiness from which is exactly the type of player I am,” Turconi said, as the sun rose at the beautiful Blue Jays Player Development Complex.

As a kid, the middle infielder played several sports and received four varsity letters for baseball along with two for golf at Blackhawk High School, in Beaver Falls, Pa.

Turconi showed commitment to his craft while attending Wake Forest University, finishing his senior year with a .314 batting average, 15 home runs, and 68 RBIs, which he credits to steady development.

“You just have to believe in yourself and the process,” he said. “My development at Wake Forest was great due to the facilities, coaches, and then I got older and more mature throughout my college years.”

Splitting time between Low-A Dunedin and High-A Vancouver hitting .279, with a home run and 14 RBIs in his first season as a pro last year, the Steel City native has had to use his hardnosed roots as a way to get accustomed to the new lifestyle.

The former Demon Deacon believes that the biggest adjustment from college to High-A level is the pitching being more polished and better overall, something that he thinks can work in his favour.

“I think I’m a really tough at bat for any pitcher in this league because of my high energy level and doing everything in my power to help benefit the team when I get in that batter’s box.”

For as long as he can remember, his goal has been to make the major leagues and that continues to be the only one on his mind.

Understanding that he is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, the 23-year-old is seeking out the weight room as much as he can at the Player Development Complex, in order to reach the Show.