Former KPIX 5 Sports Intern Now Trying To Pitch His Way To The Show For Giants
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - The Channel 5 Sports Department has had interns who have gone on to become sports broadcasters, but never pro ballplayers, until now.
Right-handed pitcher Joe Biagini spent about a year as an intern at KPIX, but now he's on the other side of the camera, pitching for the San Jose Giants.
"It's still a little bit surreal to be here," said Biagini.
Biagini was drafted in the 26th round out of U.C. Davis.
"I was in the bathroom, and my dad said 'hey you got drafted," he recalled.
When the San Jose Giants tried to place him with a hose family, he realized it was right down the block from his real house, so he elected to stay with mom and dad.
The 6'6" starter has a 6-6 record and 4.57 ERA over 16 starts this season for the San Jose Giants.
"As far as being a kid that has a chance to be a Major League pitcher, I really believe that he does," said San Jose Pitching coach Mike Couchee.
Biagini says he isn't pinning all of his career hopes to success in baseball. He plans to work at a South Bay production company in the winter to keep honing the skills he used at KPIX.
An alarmingly low 40 Major League Baseball players have college degrees. Joe refuses to squander his, even if he does make it all the way to the show.
