Andrew Bellatti thought his life was over. It had hardly just begun.
“A couple of years ago, I went through something that, if I didn’t have faith, if I didn’t let the Lord take over, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Bellatti, a pitcher for the Montgomery Biscuits. “I wouldn’t be the man standing in front of you. I had to have faith in what God was doing in my life.”
The tragic event involved multiple families. “It was awful; a terrible thing that happened. It could have happened to anyone,” he said.
When Bellatti was 18 he was driving his Ford Mustang near San Diego, Calif., and had a head-on collision. The crash killed the driver of a Dodge Caravan, a 50-year-old man. Charged with reckless driving and manslaughter, Bellatti was sentenced to eight months in the San Diego County jail and placed on probation for five years.
After serving three months, Bellatti was released. Playing a role was the widow of the man who died. After receiving a letter from Bellatti profusely apologizing, she said that was enough and asked a judge to allow him to go free.
“She showed grace and forgiveness. I don’t know of too many people in their lives who have to go through that. At that … moment, I thought my life was over. For her to show that there is more to that situation and that she wanted to show me mercy, that was very meaningful,” said Bellatti, 22. “I was given a gift of a second chance.”
The accident forced him to grow up quickly.
“I was pretty much on my own in a place that not many I have been around go. Through Christ, I saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel. I really believed what He was doing for me was something that was predetermined; that He would help me through everything,” said Bellatti, of La Mesa, Calif.
During his time in jail, he read his Bible. “I learned quite a bit in those three months. I tried to better myself and come out a better man.”
Supportive family
Through his family, he found peace.
“They were constantly there through the whole situation, right by my side,” he said.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who drafted Bellatti out of Steele Canyon High School in 2009, also stood by him.
“Since they heard about it they have had my back. It wasn’t like they heard about it and were worried about the media scrutiny,” he said.
Bellatti continues to grieve. “Still to this day it is something that I mourn. At the beginning it was tough. I just let God take control because I (was helpless). It was all Him and His plan. In that moment and in that time in my life, that is when I really turned to the Lord for everything.
“The healing process takes a while. To be honest, I haven’t fully healed from it and I don’t think I ever will,” he said.
Montgomery teammate Richie Shaffer, a third baseman, admires Bellatti’s faith and resilience.
“Anyone who goes through adversity of that nature and comes out a better person is someone with good character and high ethics. I know that faith is something that is important to him. I know when he was going through tough times that it was something he turned to a lot. That is something that continues to guide him as well,” said Shaffer, who is a Christian.
Faith is a “large factor in my life and definitely a guiding force. It is something that helps me continue down the right path for sure,” said Shaffer, who played at Clemson and was the Rays’ first round draft selection in 2012.
Montgomery pitcher Matt Ramsey, also a Christian, said of Bellatti, “He has been through a lot and handles himself well.”
Bellatti said, “God has been right there with me throughout my entire life. He is the ultimate everything. I try to live every day through the Lord.”
Bellatti was led to the Lord through his grandparents, Ronald and Arlene Bellatti, of San Diego. They would take him to church when he was younger. He and his parents, Ronald and Pamela Bellatti, would spend Sundays with them.
Influential grandfather
“That was a really special time,” said Andrew Bellatti, who is a member of Journey Community Church, La Mesa, Calif. He and his grandfather have read the Bible through together. “He gives me something to read, maybe something that he finds that day. He and I are very close.”
When Bellatti was 13 he broke his growth plate in his right arm, which is his pitching arm. He overcame that to be team MVP at Steele Canyon. He also was first team all-league.
Recruited by California State University at Fullerton, Bellatti bypassed a college scholarship for the pros.
“I knew when I was 5 years old that I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I remember the day perfectly. I was on the computer as the rounds were going by. I see my name pop up. It was surreal,” he said.
Tampa Bay selected him in the 12th round (379 overall). He was a starter for three years and moved to the bullpen in 2012. He went 7–3 with a 2.97 ERA. He had 99 strikeouts in 91 innings and five saves for Class low-A Bowling Green, Ohio.
At Charlotte, in the high-A Florida State League, he finished 6–3 with two saves and a 2.95 ERA in 22 appearances. He had a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. This season Bellatti had a 1–4 record at mid-season. He had a 2.95 ERA with four saves. He had 46 strikeouts in 40 innings.
‘Dedicated and determined’
Shaffer said, “Bellatti is a great competitor. He works extremely hard.”
Ramsey called Bellatti a “strike-thrower” who “works down in the zone.”
Bellatti’s goal is to try to outwork everyone, he said. “The strength of my game is my aggressiveness on the mound. I think that is what sets me apart. No matter what I am doing, no matter what pitch I am throwing, I am just aggressive toward the catcher and not scared.
“Last year (when) I came up here (Montgomery), I was pitching timid and got hit and walked a bunch of guys. That wasn’t me at all and I think everyone knew it. This year, I have been really aggressive going after guys. I am not scared of anyone.”
His favorite pitch, a fastball, has topped 95 mph. “It’s fast enough to blow by guys and get the job done,” he said. Becoming more consistent with his off-speed pitches is something that would “help me tremendously. I have grown as a baseball player throughout the years and worked on my craft. I am almost there. Everyone needs to improve in something. From day one when you get drafted until the end of your career, you are always under a microscope.”
With his work ethic always a focus, Bellatti has admired his father’s work ethic, whom he calls his biggest role model. His father works all night at Target and then is a teacher’s aide at a school full time.
Another role model was his maternal grandfather, Stanley McCrea. They would watch San Diego Padres games together.
Bellatti was an avid baseball card collector growing up, especially of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who was an eight-time National League batting champion. He was a five-time All-Star right fielder for the Padres from 1982 to 2001.
Being drafted and the accident have been the most significant turning points of Bellatti’s life, he said.
“No matter who you are, God is always there for you. He has a path for you. Believe in that path. Believing in myself, believing in my God-given ability, working hard, dedication and my faith help me.
“I think I have become a better man spiritually. In high school, I was kind of a goof ball and I had to grow up. Now I am grown up and I do believe that I am more of a man and I can handle certain things in a different way than I would have years ago.”
Bellatti said he found a second chance spiritually. “Jesus sacrificed His life for us. What that means to me is to cherish every single moment day in and day out; just cherish life.”
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