Former Vauxhall Jets still flying together as Blue Jays prospects

The two were even roommates for a while.

That was awesome we always got along really well we pushed each other,” says Macko. “He was on Team Canada so I always kind of looked up to that wanted to see things that he was doing.

Palmegiani was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in his graduation year in 2018, but chose the college route instead. Three years later the Jays picked him again.

Macko was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2019, and last winter was traded to the Blue Jays in the deal that sent Teoscar Hernandez west.

Palmegiani met Macko the day he arrived at the Jays facility in Dunedin for a winter camp in December.

“I just wanted to make sure he knew how happy I was and everyone else was to have him,” Palmegiani says. “I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable.”

Macko appreciated the gesture.

“It’s always good to see a familiar soul, especially one that I feel I grew up with for two or three years. So that was really awesome. It was good to reunite,” he says.

Between Vauxhall and the reunion at the Jays camp, the two remained in contact and followed each other’s careers.

He’s definitely got more than a shot to be a big league hitter. I think he’s a big league hitter already from what I’ve been seeing, he’s gone off this spring. – _{Adam Macko on Damiano Palmegiani}

MLB Pipeline ranks both as top 30 prospects in the Jays organization – Macko at No. 9 and Palmegiani at No. 29. Neither is surprised to see the other continuing to climb the ladder toward the big leagues.

“Since we finished our time in high school, the way he’s developed into the payer everyone knew he was going to be … he’s on the right path to do some special things,” Palmegiani says. “I had zero doubt in my mind I’d see Macko at the higher level with me one day and I know there’s more on the way too.”

Macko has been impressed with how Palmegiani has matured as a baseball player over the years, calling him a smart hitter and one whose brain he can pick to learn how to attack from the mound.

“He’s definitely got more than a shot to be a big league hitter. I think he’s a big league hitter already from what I’ve been seeing, he’s gone off this spring.”

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball has a strong reputation for sending players to the next level starting with the coaching staff led by Les McTavish.

“For me, he was always just kind of letting me know that I’m doing too much sometimes and kind of showing me ways how to take my foot off the gas sometimes. That’s what I needed,” Macko says. He adds they talk to this day and have a strong relationship.

Macko says there are a lot of people in the Vauxhall Academy who have spent time in the majors and they keep the players pointed in the right direction to show them what they did to be successful.

“I had zero doubt in my mind I’d see Macko at the higher level with me one day and I know there’s more on the way too.” – _{Damiano Palmegiani on Adam Macko}

Palmegiani says the academy is part of the culture of the community and everyone is there with the success of the players in mind.

“That was the first time I really looked at myself in the mirror and thought that I could play this game at you know at the big league level,” he says. “Everybody there’s got a purpose there to make you better and essentially out of there. Spend your time there and move on and you know represent Vauxhall in what you do in the future so it’s really cool.”

Macko is currently playing High A ball for the Vancouver Canadians. Palmegiani played there last year and translated a strong season into a spot on the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Macko wants to see their names together on a scoresheet this season.

“He’s only going to continue to move up higher and get better. Hopefully I’ll catch him in AA before he leaves for AAA at some point this year,” he says.

And keep flying together toward the big leagues.

by Chris Brown

Former Vauxhall Jets still flying together as Blue Jays prospects

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