St. Charles East 2023 graduate Jake Zitella forgoing college, signing with New York Mets

ST. CHARLES – Jake Zitella’s Major League Baseball career began with an unexpected phone call.

And quite the fashion sense to boot.

Zitella, a 2023 St. Charles East graduate, was drafted with the 486th overall pick by the New York Mets in the 16th round July 11.

“I was actually in the basement of my house, just with my brother Joey,” Zitella said July 12. “I did not have a great outfit on. I was wearing a bathing suit, my girlfriend’s basketball shooting shirt with no socks on.”

Zitella confirmed to the Kane County Chronicle that he is forgoing his college baseball career with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and signing with the Mets. The terms of his pending contract were not disclosed to the Chronicle.

“[The Mets] were [involved with me during the season]. I felt like there were a couple other teams that were more interested, but I’m happy with the Mets. I’m ready to get started,” Zitella said. “[Illinois], obviously, they wanted me to go to the school, but I’m very happy they recruited me and all that.”

Zitella planned to fly to St. Lucie, Florida, on July 14 to report to the Mets’ spring training facility for a physical July 15.

“It was a pretty exciting moment” for the 5-foot-11, 193-pounder whose favorite major leaguer is Mets infielder Francisco Lindor.

Now Zitella gets an opportunity to play within the same organization.

“I find it cool I’m going to the Mets and that’s where he is,” Zitella said.

In his senior season with the Saints, Zitella batted .484 with a .570 on-base percentage and .945 slugging percentage. He had 13 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs. Defensively, Zitella had 53 putouts in 65 chances with just four errors at third base in leading the Saints to conference and regional titles.

Cole Conn, a 2020 St. Charles East graduate, was selected in the 12th round by the Oakland Athletics, the 346th overall pick.

A text message and phone call to Conn were not immediately returned.

Zitella and Conn became the eighth and ninth MLB draftees from St. Charles East since 1999.

“I’m a very fortunate man. [We] just talked about nine kids that I got to work with during my coaching career that have been drafted and gone on to play in the minor leagues,” said former Saints coach Len Asquini, who retired at the conclusion of the 2023 season after 20 seasons. “That number is blowing me away just thinking about that. Thinking about two kids the same draft. Those are just special and unbelievable moments that I’m just so blessed and so happy that this is where I landed and I got to work some amazing kids.”