Vin Mazzaro
A durable relief pitcher who logged over a decade in professional baseball, known for a devastating slider that fooled big-league hitters.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball pitcher·Birthday: September 27·Millennials
Biography
Vin Mazzaro's baseball career is a testament to the value of a reliable arm in the bullpen. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics, the New Jersey native made his major league debut in 2009. Over the next eight seasons, he crafted a journeyman's path, taking the mound for five different MLB clubs. Mazzaro found his most consistent success as a reliever, where his sharp slider became a key out-pitch. His 2011 season with the Kansas City Royals stands out, as he appeared in over 40 games and posted a respectable ERA. While never a headline-grabbing star, Mazzaro embodied the essential role player, eating innings and providing stability for pitching staffs from Oakland to San Francisco, amassing nearly 400 major league innings in his career.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Vin was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Vin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Vin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched in 165 Major League games across eight seasons with five different teams.
- Recorded a 3.80 ERA over 58 appearances for the Kansas City Royals in the 2011 season.
- Struck out 247 batters over his MLB career.
Did You Know?
He was traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Kansas City Royals in a deal that involved outfielder David DeJesus.
Mazzaro attended Rutherford High School in New Jersey, which also produced MLB pitcher Jeff Fassero.
He signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants in 2017, returning to the Bay Area where his career began.
“My job is to get outs, no matter the inning or the score.”
