“It’s definitely a sense of accomplishment,” he said Sunday. “Not like a big accomplishment, but I’m going in the right direction. To be very honest, there was a time when I thought nothing would happen as far as baseball. I didn’t really think I’d have a career", Andrew after his 2015 debut with the Rays

Andrew James Bellatti (born August 5, 1991 in San Diego, CA) is a professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins.

Andrew played in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system beginning in 2009, but his career advancement stalled due to his involvement in a fatal car accident. After attending Steele Canyon High School, Bellatti was selected by the Rays in the 12th round of the 2009 amateur draft. Turning down a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, he signed with the Rays and made his pro debut with the GCL Rays that summer.

On January 22, 2010, Bellatti was involved in a car accident that killed the driver of another vehicle and injured a passenger. Prosecutors determined Bellatti was driving his car at approximately 80 miles per hour before he lost control. That November, at 19 years old, he was sentenced to eight months in jail and placed on probation for five years. He spent three months in a California jail and was released early after expressing sorrow and showing good behavior.

Making the most of his second chance, Andrew made his major league debut on May 9, 2015 for the Rays against the Texas Rangers. He also had a stint with the Miami Marlins in 2021 before catching on with the Phillies in 2022.

(excerpted from BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)