Pete Alborano hit grand slam with Eugene; Played 7 seasons

The Eugene Emeralds were on their way to a 13-5 victory in June 1987 and helping them get there was Pete Alborano.

Alborano went just 1 for 6 that day. But that one hit was a grand slam, capping off the victory in the ninth inning.

Alborano hit that grand slam in his second professional season. He went on to play in seven. In that seven-season career, though, Alborano never got the chance to hit a grand slam in the majors.

Alborano's professional career began in 1986, taken by the Royals in the 29th round of the draft, out of Brooklyn College.

Read the November 2015 interview: Pete Alborano: Constant Hustle

With the Royals, Alborano started in the rookie Gulf Coast League, hitting .277in 45 games. He then moved to short-season Eugene for 1987, getting into just 30 games, hitting .294. In late-June 1987, Alborano knocked in a run with a triple.

Alborano played 1988 at single-A Virginia, hitting .305 in 69 games. He then made single-A Baseball City in 1989, and got a 15-game look at AA Memphis.

At Baseball City in 1989, Alborano hit .337 in 77 games. He also knocked in 40 and the outfielder earned Florida State League All-Star honors. When he was promoted to AA Memphis in early August, Alborano's average led the league.

Alborano returned to Memphis for all of 1990, hitting .255 in 81 games. In a May game, Alborano went 3 for 3, knocking in two. It was back to Memphis again for 1991, but Alborano got into just 51 games. It was his final year in the Royals system.

Moving to the Phillies for 1992, Alborano played at AA Reading. In 52 games there, he hit just .232. In one June game, though, he went 4 for 4. One of those four was another home runs. It was one of Alborano's final games, his career ending by month's end.

Read the November 2015 interview: Pete Alborano: Constant Hustle

• Eugene Register-Guard, June 27, 1987: Ems finish sweep with 13-5 victory

More: The 1990 Memphis Chicks

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,024
Made the Majors: 640 - 62.5%
Never Made Majors: 384-37.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 281
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 167

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Jim Adduci got majors chances over four seasons, three clubs, 9/17/12
 - Steve Adkins' major league career spanned five games, 7/25/11

 - Troy Afenir did well enough for bigs, saw four seasons, 5/1/12
 - David Agado threw college no-hitter, saw two pro seasons, 2/8/15
 - Sal Agostinelli saw 10 seasons, AAA, later scouted, more, 5/26/11
 - Luis Aguayo saw decade in majors as player, later coached, 5/13/18
 - Brian Ahern broke bat in college, saw 7 pro seasons, AAA, 6/4/12
 - Kelly Ahrens played two pro seasons, then chose family, 1/20/15

 - Tom Akins announced for Indianapolis, collected, drummed, 5/28/24
 - Gibson Alba made the majors, career spanned three games, 2/6/12