LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball rising senior Tom Sutera has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Waterford, Connecticut native becomes the 54^th player in Siena Baseball history to sign a professional contract, and the 37^th to ink with a Major League Baseball organization.
 
"It's every kids dream to play professional baseball," exclaimed an elated Sutera. "I'm still kind of in shock, everything happened so fast. It's an unreal experience to be given this opportunity. My whole time at Siena was great and helped me grow into the person and baseball player I am today."
 
Sutera was made an undrafted free agent minor league offer by Philadelphia on July 18, and was flown to the Phillies' Spring Training complex in Clearwater, Florida Monday to complete a physical as well as additional tests. The 6-5, 190-pound righthander was cleared and officially signed with Philadelphia late Thursday afternoon, and is expected to be assigned to the Phillies' Gulf Coast League affiliate.
 
Sutera made a team-high 26 appearances in relief during his junior season this spring, ranking second on the staff with a 3.93 ERA while striking out 48 batters over 52.2 innings of work. The hard-throwing righty ranked third in the MAAC recording a stellar 1.91 ERA in conference play, striking out 25 in 28.1 innings while holding opponents to just a .210 batting average. Sutera was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team after tallying a win and a save spanning three postseason appearances in which he surrendered just one run over eight innings of work while striking out eight.
 
For his career, Sutera appeared in 46 games including two starts over his three seasons donning the Green and Gold. He posted a 3-5 record with a 5.29 ERA and exhibited solid control, striking out 77 as opposed to just 28 walks spanning 97 innings pitched.
 
Sutera was enjoying a stellar summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League with the Harwich Mariners at the time of his signing. Named a Cape Cod League All-Star earlier this month, he appeared in 10 games for Harwich while posting a 3.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 27.2 innings pitched. Sutera was named the Valley Baseball League Pitcher of the Year last summer after amassing a perfect 6-0 record with a 1.57 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 34.1 innings of relief for the Purcellville Cannons.
 
Upon his assignment, Sutera will become the third former Siena Baseball player on an active minor league roster. Classmate Marcos Campos was drafted in the 29^th Round by San Francisco earlier this month and is currently competing for the Giants' Rookie League affiliate in the Arizona League, while 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks' draftee Dan Swain plays for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League. A total of four Siena Baseball greats – Billy Harrell (Indians, Red Sox), Gary Holle (Rangers), Tim Christman (Rockies), and John Lannan (Nationals, Phillies, Mets) – have ultimately reached the highest level, playing in the majors.