Frank Mozzicato

Frank Mozzicato

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 175 lb.
• School University of Connecticut
• High School East Catholic High School

• Born June 19, 2003 in Hartford, CT USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Frank Mozzicato was the 7th overall selection of the 2021 amateur draft, by the Kansas City Royals out of a high school in Connecticut. He was the second high school pitcher to be taken that year, after Jackson Jobe who had gone third overall to the Texas Rangers. He was selected ahead of a number of higher-ranked players, including top college pitcher Kumar Rocker. Working in his favor was that he was a lefthander and had thrown four straight no-hitters for his high school that spring. He was considered to have a high ceiling, and to be available to be signed below his slot's bonus value. He was committed to attending the University of Connecticut, and did in fact attend classes there after signing with the Royals, but with the aim of earning a degree and not to play for the varsity team.

He only began his pro career the following year, 2022, making 19 starts for the Columbia Fireflies of the Carolina League and going 2-6, 4.30 while pitching 69 innings. In 2023, he began the season with Columbia, going 2-5, 3.04 in 12 starts, then was promoted to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League. He fared poorly against the higher competition, however, going 0-4, 7.12 in 9 starts. Overall, his stat line between the two clubs was 2-9, 4.65, with 70 hits allowed in 93 innings, an impressive 130 strikeouts, but also 67 walks. He obviously had good stuff, but still needed work at that point to harness it fully.

In 2024, he spent a full season at Quad Cities and went 5-10, 3.45 in 22 starts and 101 2/3 innings. He was back at Quad Cities for the start of the 2025 season, but this time he was dominant as in 7 starts, his ERA was 1.24 and he struck out 37 batters in 36 1/3 innings; his control was still far from pinpoint, though, with 22 walks, but it was time to see what he could do at a higher level and he made his AA debut on May 21st with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League. While he found the going harder there, he was still named to the American League team for the 2025 Futures Game.

Further Reading

• Josh Jackson: "Will Draft prospect extend no-hit streak?", mlb.com, May 31, 2021. [1]
• Anne Rogers: "KC takes high-upside lefty Mozzicato at No. 7", mlb.com, July 12, 2021. [2]