After toiling in the minor leagues for five long years, former Stetson Hatters standout Patrick Mazeika finally got the call he has been waiting for on Tuesday.
 
Mazeika is going to the Major Leagues.
 
A native of Springfield, Mass., Mazeika has played 441 games over five years in the minors, spending time in Kingsport (Tenn.), Columbia, SC, Port St. Lucie and Binghamton. He has been at the Mets alternate training site in Syracuse, NY, since mid-July when Major League Baseball opened the 2020 season.
 
On Tuesday, Mazeika will be in Flushing, Queens, in New York City when the Mets return from a four-day break in play due to Covid-19 with a double-header against the Florida Marlins. He is expected to make his Major League debut in the second game tonight and likely catch announced starting pitcher Seth Lugo.
 
Mazeika has posted a .278 batting average in his Minor League career, having hit 40 home runs and driven in 246 runs. Stetson's all-time career leader in times hit by a pitch, Mazeika has been plunked 50 times in his professional career.
 
He joins teammate Jacob deGrom and Texas Rangers' pitcher Corey Kluber (who is on the 60-day injured list) as active former Hatters in the Major Leagues. Another former Hatter, pitcher Logan Gilbert, is currently working out at the Seattle Mariners' alternate site in Tacoma, Wash., and has a chance to make his MLB debut before the season ends.
 
Mazeika, who will wear jersey number 76 for the Mets, will be the 11^th Stetson alum to appear in a Major League game when he makes his regular season debut.
 
Past Hatters to have played in the Major Leagues include Bill Swaggerty, Wade Rowdon, George Tsamis, Eric Knott, Kevin Nicholson, Lenny DiNardo, Chris Johnson and Brian Bocock, in addition to deGrom and Kluber.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.