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Overcast Royals pitcher returns to his childhood gym in Rockville Centre
Kevin McCarthy, relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, visited his old stomping grounds on Dec. 19 when he returned to Sportset Health and Fitness Club’s turf field in Rockville Centre.
McCarthy, 25, who has lived in Rockville Centre since 2006, used to train at Sportset, and was a four-year varsity baseball player at Kellenberg High School. He played college baseball at Marist College, earning MAAC All-Academic honors in 2012 and 2013, before being selected in the 16th round — 474th overall — of the 2013 draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Over parts of five minor league seasons, he compiled a 2.91 ERA with 22 saves. Making his major-league debut in 2016, he has appeared in 43 games for the Royals, notching a 3.71 earned run average over 53 1/3 innings.
McCarthy was introduced to the kids in attendance by one of his high school trainers, Hector Duprey, as he then signed autographs and gave them a lesson on throwing.
“At Sportset we are very grateful to see Kevin come back and run the mini clinic for the baseball kids of Rockville Centre,” said Sportset owner Dennison Silvio. “It humbles us to know that Sportset has played a small role in his journey to Major League Baseball.”
