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Cyclones double down on Met fathers and sons

July 5, 2013 Jim Dolan

Photo courtesy of Jim Dolan

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This season, left-handed pitcher Shawn Teufel joins the Cyclones as the second son of a New York Met from the 1986 Championship World Series team. Along with Cyclone second baseman L.J. Mazzilli, son of Lee Mazzilli, the 26-year-old southpaw has also followed in the footsteps of his father, Tim Teufel, the current third base coach of the New York Mets.

After his completing his baseball career in San Diego in 1992, the elder Teufel returned to the Mets as a roving advisor in 2001 and then as the Cyclones third manager in 2003. Often, the then 16-year-old Shawn would often be seen on the dugout rail alongside his dad and would also accompany the team on road trips.

After spending three years in Detroits minor league system, Shawn was released by the Tigers and was picked up by the Mets during spring training in late March. Starting the season out at Double-A Binghamton, Shawn experienced some back pain and was sent to Brooklyn on a rehab assignment.

Making his second appearance to record his first save in the Cyclones 7-4 over Hudson Valley, Teufel appears to be one of those lefty specialists out of the bullpen that Manager Rich Donnelly can call on to hold a lead.

Oddly enough, the young Teufel jumped onto the regional baseball scene two years ago when he faced his dads team at Triple-A Buffalo in a game that was televised on SNY in late August 2011.

After playing for the Tigers Single-A team in Lakeland, Florida, the young Teufel was promoted to the Toledo Mud Hens, the same team that his dad starred on before making it to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins.

After Shawn had pitched six innings, recording seven strikeouts and giving up three hits for the win to beat Buffalo, the senior Teufel came right out onto the field to hug his son on his victory.

Hes always supported me, said Shawn of his dad who has managed at every level of the Mets minor league system from 2003 to 2011. Ive been playing since I was seven years old and this is where I want to be. On his rehab assignment to a lower minor league level, Teufel stated, I didnt start out to pitch here, but injuries and setbacks happen, so here I am.

Noting that the coaching staff has altered his delivery to that of a side-arming submariner, Teufel commented, They have me working from below. Its still a work in progress but Im getting more comfortable with it.

The elder Teufel preached to the Cyclones on the 2003 team that, Minor league baseball is a game of learning and adjustments. Now,10 years later, Teufels words still ring true as his son is learning to make those adjustments necessary to succeed at the next level.

As far as the teams early season standing, after divisional play against the first place 10-4 Hudson Valley Renegades, the Cyclones have dropped to a record of 5-8 in the McNamara Division sharing third place with the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Although the Cyclones have shown the beginning of some offensive pop on Matt Oberstes 4-for-5 game against Hudson Valley for a 7-4 win, the Renegades have picked up right from last season.

As last seasons 2012 New York Penn League champs, the Renegades have lately owned the Cyclones as recently demonstrated during their last two games with a 7-0 win at MCU Park and a 1-0 heartbreaker in 11 innings at Dutchess County Stadium.