Andre Pallante

Andre Pallante's Biography

Neil Andre Pallante, commonly known as Neil Pallante, was born on September 18, 1998. He is a professional baseball right handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his first appearance in the MLB in 2022.

Born and raised in picturesque Orange County, California, Pallante’s journey to professional baseball started at an early age. His natural talent shone through during his high school years at the highly competitive San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California. He played alongside Kolby Allard and Michael McGreevy, both of whom would also pursue a professional career in baseball.

Pallante’s ability to pitch was apparent during his junior year in 2015. He led the team with 73+1⁄3 innings and marked a remarkable 1.72 ERA (Earned Run Average). Following a fruitful junior stint, his senior year in 2016 saw even sharper pitching skills as Pallante marked a 6-3 win-loss record with a sterling 1.02 ERA.

His baseball prowess continued into college. He enrolled at the University of California, Irvine, where he played three seasons of college baseball with the UC Irvine Anteaters. His performance in his freshman year 2017 led to an opportunity to play collegiate summer baseball for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Pallante’s sophomore year in 2018 turned out to be one of his standout seasons. He started 15 games and recorded an impressive 10–1 win-loss record and a 1.60 ERA, the second-lowest in the school’s history. His exceptional performance earned him a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

Pallante continued his impressive performance into his junior year. Starting 15 games, he amassed a 10–4 record and a 2.68 ERA across 94 innings. His college career culminated with selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.

Having signed with the Cardinals, Pallante got his first taste of professional baseball with the State College Spikes of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his journey, and he did not play a minor league game in 2020.

He returned with a vengeance in the 2021 season, playing mostly with the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Central. Across 21 games, he marked a 4–7 win-loss record with a 3.82 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 94+1⁄3 innings. Following a mid-season shift to the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A East, Pallante was chosen to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs, from which his skills got him named to the Fall Stars Game.

In 2022, Pallante was among the non-roster invitees to spring training. He was formally inducted into the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster in April. He made his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. From relieving responsibilities, he transitioned into the starting rotation in early June.

Notably, Pallante stepped onto the international stage as he represented the Italy national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His journey, from the playing fields of Orange County to the grand stage of Major League Baseball and international competition, marks Neil Pallante as an exceptional baseball talent and a player to watch.