Ronald James Marinaccio Bio
Ronald James Marinaccio is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees. He made his MLB debut on April 9, 2022, and has established himself as a reliable relief pitcher at the major league level. Marinaccio was drafted by the Yankees in 2017 and developed through their minor league system before becoming a key contributor in their bullpen.
Early Life and Background
Marinaccio was born on July 1, 1995, in Toms River, New Jersey. He attended Toms River High School North and played baseball for the school’s team, graduating in 2013. During his high school career, he developed the foundation for his future as a pitcher while competing at the local level in New Jersey.
After high school, Marinaccio attended the University of Delaware, where he played college baseball for the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens. He missed what would have been his freshman season in 2014 when he underwent reconstructive surgery on his elbow, forcing him to redshirt that year. He spent his early college career as a starting pitcher, making 24 starts in 25 games, before transitioning to the bullpen during his junior year in 2017.
Path to Professional Baseball
The New York Yankees selected Marinaccio in the 19th round, with the 572nd overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees, posting a 2.30 ERA in 13 appearances. He advanced to the rookie-level Pulaski Yankees and Low-A Staten Island Yankees in 2018, combining for a 4.76 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 4 saves across 17 relief outings between the two affiliates.
Marinaccio pitched for the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs in 2019, compiling a 4.18 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 4 saves in 18 appearances. He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the shutdown, he worked with Daniel Moskos to improve his pitching, which resulted in his velocity increasing from 90-91 mph to 94-95 mph. In 2021, he pitched for the Double-A Somerset Patriots, where Moskos served as the pitching coach.
On August 8, 2021, while pitching for Somerset, Marinaccio participated in a combined no-hitter started by Luis Severino and also featuring Shawn Semple. The following day, the Yankees promoted him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He finished the season with a 1.82 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings for Somerset and a 2.36 ERA in 18 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2021 season.
Ronald James Marinaccio Career
New York Yankees (2022-2024)
Marinaccio was named to the Yankees Opening Day roster for the 2022 season and made his major league debut on April 9, 2022. He emerged as a reliable option in the Yankees bullpen, recording a 2.05 ERA in 40 games during his rookie campaign. His performance earned him a significant role in the team’s relief corps as the season progressed.
Marinaccio returned to the Yankees in 2023 and posted a 3.99 ERA in 45 games. However, the Yankees demoted him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the season, where he struggled with a 15.00 ERA in 15 1/3 innings while walking 18 batters. He began the 2024 season optioned to Triple-A and appeared in 16 games for New York before being designated for assignment on September 20, 2024.
San Diego Padres (2025-Present)
The Chicago White Sox claimed Marinaccio off waivers from the Yankees on September 23, 2024. The White Sox designated him for assignment on January 21, 2025. On January 24, 2025, the White Sox traded him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for cash considerations. The Padres optioned him to Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas to begin the 2025 season, where he appeared in 7 games and posted an impressive 0.84 ERA with 12 strikeouts before being called up to the major league roster.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Marinaccio operates primarily as a relief pitcher, featuring a mid-90s fastball that became his calling card after he added velocity during the 2020 pandemic period. His ability to generate strikeouts has remained consistent throughout his professional career. His experience working with Daniel Moskos helped refine his approach and mechanics, contributing to his effectiveness at the Double-A and Triple-A levels before his MLB debut.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Marinaccio’s most significant professional moments came on August 8, 2021, when he pitched in a combined no-hitter while with the Somerset Patriots. This accomplishment came just one day before his promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Making the Opening Day roster for the New York Yankees in 2022 represented another major milestone in his career trajectory from 2017 draft pick to major leaguer.
Ronald James Marinaccio Career Statistics
Marinaccio has compiled his major league statistics across portions of three seasons with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. His career totals reflect his role as a durable bullpen arm capable of logging significant innings across multiple seasons.
MLB Career Highlights
Through June 21, 2026, Marinaccio has appeared in 61 major league games, totaling 114 2/3 innings pitched. His career record stands at 7 wins and 5 losses with a 3.18 earned run average and 181 strikeouts. His strongest season came in 2022 when he posted a 2.05 ERA in 40 relief appearances for the Yankees.
Minor League Career
Marinaccio spent five seasons in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut. He saved 12 games across Single-A and Low-A levels with Charleston, Staten Island, and Pulaski, posting an ERA under 5.00 at each level while accumulating 98 total strikeouts across his minor league career.
Ronald James Marinaccio Family
Family Background
Marinaccio grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, where he attended Toms River High School North before advancing to play at the University of Delaware. His New Jersey roots have remained consistent throughout his professional career, with his personal life closely tied to the area.
Personal Life
Marinaccio married Gianna Fiore in Fredon Township, New Jersey, on December 2, 2023. His marriage took place during his tenure with the Yankees organization. He continues to maintain connections to his home state while pursuing his professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
Marinaccio opened the 2025 campaign with Triple-A El Paso, where he delivered exceptional results in 7 relief appearances, recording a 0.84 ERA and 12 strikeouts. His strong showing in the Pacific Coast League earned him a promotion to the major league roster, where he joined a San Diego Padres team seeking to build a reliable bullpen for the stretch run of the season.