FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Baseball graduate pitcher Michael Sansone has signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and will report to the team's Spring Training Complex to begin his professional career. Sansone will go down as one of the best left-handed pitchers in Fairfield history as he is ranked fourth all-time in wins (19) and strikeouts (217) while being second in program history for fewest walks per nine innings (1.69).
 
"Playing professional baseball is all I've wanted to do as far back as my memory can take me," Sansone said. "Getting this opportunity to enter professional baseball and get another step closer towards that goal means everything to me. It's an unbelievable feeling."

"Nobody works harder and wants to compete and win more than Michael Sansone," Head Coach Bill Currier said. "This is a credit to the opportunities he has had at Fairfield and making every summer league All-Star team he has played for five years. He has made the most out of these opportunities at every level. The coaches and his teammates wish him the best in pro ball."
 
Sansone will finish his Fairfield career with a 19-9 record which featured a historic 9-2 season in 2021, helping him to an All-MAAC First Team selection. The nine victories, including a crucial win over Arizona State in the NCAA Tournament, tied a program single season record. In helping the Stags to their historical season, Sansone finished in the top-5 in the MAAC in: ERA (2.58), WHIP (1.01), and Strikeout-to-Walk ratio (4.87).
 
The hard-throwing left-hander was one of just five Stags all-time to strikeout 200 or more batters in his career, finishing with 217. The southpaw fired seven or more innings 12 times over the last two seasons while striking out 10 or more in four games. His final start with the Stags was an impressive outing in the MAAC Tournament as he struck out 10 Rider Broncs in seven innings.
 
That success carried over in summer ball as he was named to the prestigious Cape Cod League All-Star Team in back-to-back seasons, the first Stag ever honored by the summer league. Most recently, Sansone toed the rubber for the Wareham Gatemen and posted 32 strikeouts on just one walk.
 
Sansone becomes the 32nd Stag all-time to sign a professional contract and the 10th in the 11 seasons under Head Coach Bill Currier. Sansone helped the Stags to two MAAC Regular Season Championships including their first-ever At-Large big into the NCAA Regionals in 2021.