Anthony Varvaro

Anthony Varvaro
Born	Anthony Michael Varvaro (1984-10-31) 31 October 1984 Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Died	11 September 2022(2022-09-11) (aged 37) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Professional baseball pitcher, Police officer
Years active	2010–2015 (MLB), 2016–2022 (police)
Known for	MLB pitcher for Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox; Port Authority police officer

Anthony Michael Varvaro (October 31, 1984 – September 11, 2022) was a professional American baseball pitcher who competed in Major League Baseball (MLB) representing the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox between 2010 and 2015. Following his tenure in baseball, Varvaro pursued a career as a law enforcement officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Amateur career

Raised in Staten Island’s West Brighton area, Varvaro participated in local Little League Baseball. He attended Curtis High School on Staten Island, where he played for the school's baseball team and graduated in 2002. Subsequently, he played collegiate baseball at St. John's University, pitching for the St. John's Red Storm. During his junior season in 2004, he achieved a 9–3 win–loss record with a 2.32 earned run average (ERA), striking out 115 batters over 85 innings pitched. That summer, he competed with the Harwich Mariners in the renowned Cape Cod Baseball League. Varvaro earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. In 2015, he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Seattle Mariners

Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2005 MLB draft, Varvaro began his professional journey in 2006 with the Peoria Mariners, appearing in five games. The following year, he played for the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, making 22 appearances with 21 starts and leading the team with 112 strikeouts.

In 2008, Varvaro pitched for the Class-A High Desert Mavericks across 30 games, including 24 starts. The next season, he divided time between the Mavericks and Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, earning selection to the Southern League All-Star Team. Additionally, he participated in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas. On November 20, 2009, Varvaro was added to Seattle's 40-man roster.

He began 2010 with the Diamond Jaxx and following an all-star appearance, was promoted to Triple-A's Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. After Tacoma's season concluded, on September 22, 2010, Varvaro was among five players called up to join the Mariners' Major League roster.

Atlanta Braves

Varvaro was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on January 13, 2011. He started that season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves of the International League before being elevated to Atlanta’s major league bullpen in July for relief duties; he later returned to Gwinnett. He was recalled once more on September 1, 2011. Between 2013 and 2014, Varvaro recorded a 2.74 ERA over 123 games pitched, fulfilling roles from long relief to right-handed specialist. On December 15, 2014, he was designated for assignment. Throughout his four seasons with Atlanta, he sustained a 2.99 ERA.

Boston Red Sox

On December 17, 2014, Varvaro was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Aaron Kurcz. He surrendered five runs across eleven innings before being designated for assignment on April 29, 2015. Claimed on waivers by the Chicago Cubs on May 3, an injury—a torn flexor tendon in his pitching arm—was diagnosed shortly thereafter, resulting in his return to Boston and subsequent season-ending surgery. He was placed on the disabled list on May 24 and released following the conclusion of the season.

After recuperating, Varvaro signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox on December 15, 2015. In the 2016 campaign, he pitched for Triple-A's Pawtucket Red Sox, compiling a 3–2 record with a 2.83 ERA and one save over eighteen relief outings while striking out thirty-one batters and issuing thirteen walks across innings pitched.

Police career

In June 2016, Varvaro concluded his baseball career to commence police training with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. By December 2016, he had become an officer within the Port Authority Police Department. Initially, he served at the World Trade Center Command. After dedicating five years there, he transitioned to a role as an instructor at the Port Authority's police academy.

Personal life

Varvaro entered into marriage with Kerry Thomson in 2011, and together they raised four children. In recognition of his achievements, he was honored as a member of the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame's 2019 class.

Tragically, Varvaro lost his life at age 37 in a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver in Jersey City, New Jersey, close to the Holland Tunnel, during the early hours of September 11, 2022. He was traveling to fulfill his duty at the World Trade Center Command for a September 11 memorial event.