Baldwin grad Sean Kealey getting chance to shine in Cardinals organization

After much deliberation, Baldwin graduate Sean Kealey decided to leap into the financial business world with BNY Mellon following a stellar baseball career at Allegheny College.

That is, until fate steered him onto a different path with the independent Washington Wild Things.

As it turns out, Kealey’s professional baseball aspirations were set aside only temporarily.

A 6-foot-7, 225-pound left-handed pitcher, Kealey recently reported to Low-A Palm Beach in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system.

After high school, Kealey continued his baseball career at Allegheny, where he was named North Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2019. He eventually chased his professional baseball dream by re-signing with the Washington Wild Things in May.

It proved to be a short stint.

“I’m extremely happy to be playing baseball in the Cardinals’ organization,” Kealey said. “They were keeping tabs on me when I was pitching for the Wild Things, and through the help of Tony Buccilli, Tom Vaeth and Alex Boshers, they purchased my contract from the team in June.

“That was a moment I’ll never forget. Tom announced that my contract had been purchased, and all of my teammates were there to celebrate with me.”

Palm Beach is located in Jupiter, Fla.; the team competes in the Southeast League and its home venue is Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals share the complex with the Jupiter Hammerheads.

“I’ve been in Palm Beach for a few weeks now, and so far it’s been a great experience,” Kealey said. “Our coaching staff and trainers have been awesome to meet and learn from. They’ve had me relieving (in a closer’s role) so far. I’ve been focusing on intent and command in my outings, and I’d say it’s been going well.

“We are fortunate to play and train at the same facility the St. Louis Cardinals use for spring training, which is really cool.”

It’s sometimes the little things that count for an athlete.

Brandon Crum, Allegheny’s coach, pointed out when Kealey signed with the Cards that “Sean simply does what others aren’t willing to do to be successful.”

Crum noted that Kealey focuses constantly on learning and improving, developing his pitches and working out.

“He always wants to improve even the smallest of things, and that is what makes him different,” Crum said. “He enjoys the training, welcomes the work and loves knocking down goals.”

Kealey played for four years at Allegheny. In 2019, he went 6-3 in 12 starts, scattered 61 hits over 69.1 innings and struck out 75.

He was off to a terrific start with a 1-0 record and 22 strikeouts in 13 innings in his senior year in 2020, but the season was cut short because of the covid-19 pandemic.

He graduated with a 17-8 career mark with one save, fanned 169 in 160.2 innings and logged a 4.31 ERA.

Kealey majored in economics at Allegheny and had planned for a career as a financial analyst.

“Allegheny was where I ‘grew up’ and took baseball more serious,” he said. “Playing for coach Crum not only helped me become a better player but a better leader.

“We made the playoffs for the first time as a program in four years in 2019 by sweeping on the road in the last series of the regular season, and that was something I’ll never forget. Some of my best friends were on that team, and seeing our work pay off showed everyone that Allegheny has a great program.”

Kealey pitched in four games for the Wild Things, striking out the side June 10 against New Jersey in what turned out to be his final appearance for the team.

He started his time with Washington throwing in the 2020 summer pod at Wild Things Park after the pandemic shortened his final college season.

“Sean worked so hard for this opportunity and laid everything on the line,” said Buccilli, president and general manager of the Wild Things, on the team’s website. “Covid robbed him of his senior season at Allegheny College and derailed the traditional path to pro baseball. We wish him nothing but the best on his journey with the Cardinals.”

Vaeth, Washington’s manager, also was excited for Kealey’s opportunity in the Cards’ organization.

“It was a pleasure having Sean with us, and I know he will do great things in the next stage of his career,” Vaeth said. “I’m so honored and happy to play a small part in helping him achieve his goal of signing with an organization. ”

Kealey, 23, entertains hopes of pitching in the major leagues in the not-too-distant future.

“I would say that is a dream of mine,” he said. “It’s something I really started to see as feasible my junior year of college. Now that I’m with the Cardinals, I’m one step closer to that goal.

“I just have a mindset of putting in the work necessary for me to be the best teammate and pitcher I can be, and everything else will take care of itself.”

Kealey said his go-to pitch, when it’s on, is his changeup.

“That’s my swing-and-miss or out pitch,” he said, “when I can work off of my other pitches. It pairs really well with my fastball.”

Kealey tosses in the 91-94 mph range, considerably higher than his low-80s mark in high school.

“I think I hit 83 once,” he said.

At Baldwin, Kealey, the son of Ken and Christine, was a two-year letterman, National Honor Society member and 2016 graduate. He was a baseball camp volunteer and played CYO basketball.

“Ken and I were thrilled when Sean called us from the Wild Things clubhouse to share the news that the Cardinals purchased his contract,” said his mom, Christine. “I asked him to repeat it because I was so stunned, it was taking a minute for me to process the information. We were not at all surprised to hear he was moving to the next leg of his journey; we just didn’t expect it to happen so fast. We were crying and laughing and jumping up and down, celebrating the recognition of his dedication and commitment to his dream.

“That was at 4 p.m. on a Friday, and by 4 a.m. Saturday, we were driving Sean to the airport so he could be on his flight to West Palm Beach. Everything happened so quickly. Needless to say, we are beside ourselves with pride and joy to see him now as a part of the St. Louis organization. It’s hard to not be there with him, but we follow all the games and the audio broadcasts and celebrate each success along the way. We are thrilled he has this opportunity and have no doubt he will embrace it and continue to develop and advance.”

During Kealey’s sophomore season at Baldwin in 2014, the Highlanders advanced to the WPIAL finals at, yes, the Wild Things’ home park. The Highlanders, coached by Dan Caponi, won Section 3 and posted a 16-4 record in Class 4A that year.

“That was a great team,” Kealey said. “I enjoyed playing for Baldwin. I still talk to a lot of my teammates and playing for coach Caponi was awesome.”

Kealey was 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA with Palm Beach through July 1, with 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

“I just focus on each individual outing and try to be the best I can,” he said. “I’m just grateful and blessed to be able to do something I love with the support of friends and family.

“There are a lot of people that helped me get here, from coach Crum to Matt Pilewski to Pat Sadler, and to Chase Rowe and Josh Sharpless. They all helped me this past offseason, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without their help.”