Starting his fifth season where he played at least partially in the high-A Carolina League, Greg Ferlenda found himself thankful, he told The Roanoke Times in April 1990.
He wasn't bothered by it at all, he told The Times.
"It doesn't matter as long as I'm pitching," Ferlenda told The Times. "I know what my role is and as long as I'm helping the team, I'm happy."
Ferlenda spoke to The Times in his eighth season overall. It also proved his last. He saw four separate organizations over his career. He topped out at AA.
Ferlenda's career began in 1983, taken by the Blue Jays in the 14th round of the January draft out of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY.
Ferlenda started with the Blue Jays at rookie Medicine Hat. He went 4-6, with a 6.01 ERA over 16 outings, 11 starts.
He moved to single-A Florence for 1984 and 1985. Sent to the Rangers in a November trade, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified Ferlenda as among a large pool of future Rangers pitchers.
"Ferlenda has pitched at the Class A level, but he's probably a couple years away," Rangers farm director Sandy Johnson told The Star-Telegram.
He played 1986 between single-A Salem and AA Tulsa. He even made the Rangers' 40-man roster, though they moved him to the AAA roster in November.
Ferlenda started 1987 at Tulsa, then moved to the Orioles and single-A Hagerstown for 1987. He saw two relief outings at Hagerstown.
He arrived with the Indians at single-A Kinston for 1988, then saw Kinston and AA Canton-Akron in 1989 and the same two levels in 1990.
He saved 23 games for Kinston in 1990, his 11th in early June in a hitless 1.2-inning outing. Overall between the two levels, he went 1-2, with a 2.29 ERA in 55 outings. That season proved his last as a pro.
Ferlenda briefly moved to coaching in the minors with the Indians. He has since returned to Syracuse. In 2022, he's listed as a pitching instructor at Sports Zone Academy there.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 15, 1985: Rangers will practice strong-arm methods in future
- Roanoke Times, April 30, 1990: Former Redbird slams door on Bucs
Made the Majors:1,327-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,663-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:543
10+ Seasons in the Minors:329
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