Local star achieves dream in Italy

Local star achieves dream in Italy

After many exasperating years satiated with obstacles from injuries to gun-bearing Dominicans, the Bronx’ Rocky Nicotina is finally living his dream as the only American invited back to play baseball for Rajo Baseball in Milan, Italy.

“Being a natural athlete, there was always a ball in Rocky’s hands,” said the athlete’s proud father, Al Nicotina, Sr. “He would be in front of the house for hours playing ball.”

Standing 5’10, 180-pounds, Nicotina is no foreigner to the baseball realm. He attended auditions at Yankee Stadium for the Bronx Bombers, Coney Island for the Brooklyn Cyclones, and even tried out for a Tampa Bay Devil Rays minor league team.

The now 25-year-old Locust Point shortstop has accumulated quite a lengthy list of athletic accomplishments thus far, beginning his quest for athletic eminence at two-years of age playing wiffle ball in his front yard before broadening his scope to include basketball as the starting guard for St. Clare’s.

With baseball still his focus, the Throgs Neck Little League alum went All-City for Lehman High School,  before moving on as the shortstop and captain for John Jay College.

After college, Nicotina participated in a weeklong training camp in the Dominican Republic held by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and now, is living abroad in Italy playing ball.

Although life couldn’t be any more dissimilar to living in America with a lack of modern technology and people riding their bikes instead of driving, Nicotina says he has it relatively stress-free, especially with the unconditional love of his family.

“My family loves that I actually did something amazing with my baseball talents,” Nicotina said.

According to Nicotina it has been a very long road to the top.

“I thought I was going to get drafted in the states after my junior year of college,” Nicotina said.  “I was off to a great start, then about three weeks into the season I tore my hamstring and was finished for the year.”

Nicotina suffered another setback after putting everything on the line, traveling to the Dominican Republic for a tryout with the Diamondbacks. He made the cut, but decided to go home after seeing men with knives and machine guns walking the streets.

The Lehman grad claims he thought of giving up constantly, but even switched high schools his sophomore year due to baseball, having gone All-City in basketball earlier for Mt. St. Michael.

Nevertheless, he persisted and now he’s playing well with a batting average now over .400 in Italy.

According to his father, Rajo Baseball is an AAA equivalent; a place where really good players pass through trying to make it in the big leagues.  Although Nicotina still has hope, he doubts that he will ever be a big leaguer.

“I’m 25 now, there are guys that are 25 that have been playing in the majors for five or six years already,” Nicotina said.  “But I came out here to look for a back entrance into American baseball. Sometimes if you ‘rip it up’ out here they will give you a shot.”

His proudest moment in Italy was going 6-for-8 against the first place team. He hit 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 singles in a double header. It has all been worth it.

“My dream has come true. My life is baseball for six months out of the year. It’s great to wake up and think to yourself, ‘wow I don’t have anything to do today besides baseball.’ My pops always told me that if you can do something you love that you’ll be happy in life, and its true.”