While Diamond.com was busy covering and writing about its current Diamond Jacks the past couple days, including a terrific pitchers duel at Hunterdon Central (see related story), a former member of our Super 17 team was shutting down major leaguers.

Anthony DeSclafani, a 2008 graduate of Colts Neck High School, pitched a beautiful three-hit shutout on Monday to guide the San Francisco Giants to a 12-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The righthander struck out nine and walked one in an extremely tidy 100-pitch effort. All three hits were singles.

DeSclafani was a high school and travel ball phenom and was drafted in the 22nd round of MLB’s 2008 amateur draft by the Red Sox. He opted for college and the University of Florida and was drafted again, three years later, in the 6th round this time, by the Toronto Blue Jays. It took DeSclafani just three years to reach the big leagues and he was, by then, with the Marlins franchise.

After elevating to the majors with the Marlins in 2015, he was traded to Cincinnati in 2016 and played with the Reds through the 2020 season. DeSclafani signed a one-year $6 million contract with the Giants in the off-season and the team has seen major dividends in the early going. DeSclafani is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts. He’s allowed 22 hits over 30 innings while striking out 30 and walking seven.

DeSclafani owns a 39-39 record and a 4.17 ERA over seven major league seasons. He’s started 120 of the 130 games he’s pitched in. The 31 year-old appears on the verge of a breakout season.