Mark Saccomanno

Mark Edison Saccomanno (born April 30, 1980) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros in 2008. He represented Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Career

Amateur At 17, Saccomanno was awarded the Klein Forest High School Golden Glove award. He was also selected to the 17-and-under AAU National All-Tournament Team. At 18, was named Second-Team All-District 16-5A as a shortstop and received the National Scholar Athlete Award. He played college baseball for Baylor University.

Professional Saccomanno was selected in the 23rd round (689th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros.

Saccomanno was called up to the majors by the Houston Astros on September 8, , and hit a home run on the first pitch of his first major league at-bat, pinch hit for pitcher Alberto Árias, against Pirates' pitcher Ian Snell. A free agent at the end of the season, he re-signed with the Astros on January 5, to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee.