Mineola Native Still Pursuing Big-League Dreams

Like most kids growing up on Long Island, B.J. LaMura often stared at a Don Mattingly poster that hung on his wall dreaming of playing in the major leagues.

Once a fast-rising athlete seemingly destined for the majors, LaMura's path has taken some severe detours.

At the age of 30, LaMura has spent nearly a decade at outposts in Kannapolis, Winston-Salem, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Dunedin and now, the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, the goal remains.

“I’m at a point in my career where I’m trying to find a niche,” LaMura said. “I’ve shown that I’m versatile, having pitched in basically been in every role you can as a pitcher. Now, I need to break in somewhere.”

This season the Fisher Cats claimed the Eastern League championship, defeating the Richmond Flying Squirrels three games to one. After compiling a 4.19 ERA in 88 innings starting and relieving during the regular season, the righty LaMura worked 2/3 of an inning in Game 1 of the finals.

Despite being part of a championship team, LaMura still wonders whether it will ever happen for him. During those times he says he looks to pitching coach Pete Walker for inspiration. Walker had two brief major-league stints in his late 20s, but didn't establish himself as a major leaguer until 2002, when he was 33.

"At any point, if an older guy gets hot and pitches well in front of the right people, he can reclaim his career," Walker said. “Every 30-year-old wants to be in the big leagues, and when you're knocking around in the minors, it can be trying at times.”

After being drafted by the White Sox in 2002, LaMura spent the next four-and-a-half years in the minors, advancing as high as double-A before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Sandy Alomar Jr.

The Dodgers released him after the 2008 season and LaMura competed in the World Baseball Classic as part of Team Italy and a couple of games which were played at the Rogers Center in Toronto.

"For me, that was as close to a big-league experience as I've ever had," said LaMura, who was teammates with Smithtown East grad Frank Catalanotto. “Those were major-league teams. Playing against Team Canada, we were in front of a packed house.”

From there, LaMura played in nearly empty stadiums. Unable to connect with an affiliated team with Northeast connections and wanting to be close to his expectant wife, LaMura signed with the independent Long Island Ducks.

Though far away from the big leagues, it provided the opportunity to play close to home.

"My family and friends came to all the games that I pitched,” he said. “If you can't find a situation in affiliated ball that you like, independent leagues are a great place to go. If you do well there, there's a good chance you'll get picked up, and you'll have a chance to get where you want to be."

LaMura received that chance when the Blue Jays signed him before the 2010 season. Though he doesn't throw as hard as he did in high school, he has learned how to compete, making the adjustment from hard-thrower to pitcher.

“If I felt like it was far away, I wouldn't be doing it anymore,” he said. “If you feel you can do it, you should pursue it. As long as you have a uniform on your back, and you keep working, you have a chance to make it.”

If he does, maybe LaMura will be on some other Long Island kid's wall someday.