Mark DiFelice

Minor league career

DiFelice started his professional career as a part of the Colorado Rockies organization in 1998. He played his first season for their Class A (Short Season) affiliate, the Portland Rockies. In 1999, he advanced to the Class A-Advanced Salem Avalanche. In 2000, he played for the Double-A Carolina Mudcats. He also played part of the 2001 season for Carolina, but also pitched for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. In 2002, he was sent back down to the Class A (Short Season) Tri-City Dust Devils and Salem. In 2003, he played for the Rockies' new Double-A affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers.

In 2004, he switched to the Baltimore Orioles organization, playing for their Triple-A Ottawa Lynx. In 2005, DiFelice pitched for the Washington Nationals with their Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs and the independent Atlantic League's Somerset Patriots. He stayed with the Atlantic League for 2006, playing for the Camden Riversharks.

DiFelice returned to affiliated baseball in 2007, playing for the Milwaukee Brewers' Double-A Huntsville Stars, and then their Triple-A Nashville Sounds. After his first ten professional seasons, DiFelice had a record of 77–57, with an ERA of 3.53, and had recorded 951 strikeouts.

Major league career

After starting the 2008 season in Nashville, posting a 3–0 record with a 3.91 ERA, his contract was purchased by Milwaukee on May 15, and he made his major league debut three days later, May 18. On June 29, after appearing in 10 games, he was sent back down to Nashville. He received a call up on September 1, 2008, and he picked up his first major league win in the same month.

He spent the whole next season in 2009 in the big leagues. He finished with a 4-1 record with 51.2 innings pitched and a 3.66 ERA. Following the 2009 season, DiFelice underwent shoulder surgery which sidelined him for the entire 2010 season. He signed a minor league contract with an invitation to 2011 spring training while pitching in the fall instructional league.

On June 18, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Brewers. He made it back to the major leagues only to have his shoulder give out again, requiring a 3rd surgery and ending his 2011 season. In 2012, he signed with an Italian team.

World Baseball Classic

DiFelice was selected as a pitcher for the Italian national team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He started in the team's opening game against Venezuela, pitching 4 shutout innings while allowing just 3 hits and striking out 1 batter, finishing the game with a no decision after leaving the game scoreless.

Personal

He is also the unofficial barber of all the teams he has played for. His grandmother was a hairdresser, and his aunt owns a salon in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. When word spread that he cut hair, his teammates began making appointments for haircuts in the clubhouse.

He is married to Lauren A. DiFelice. The two celebrated their marriage on December 31, 2011 in Philadelphia.