Pistorese assigned to AquaSox

EVERETT, Wash. — Kalispell’s Joe Pistorese has been assigned to the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League, the short-season Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Pistorese, a 6-foot-1, left-handed pitcher that spent the last four years at Washington State, was drafted in the 17th round by the Mariners with the 515th overall pick in the MLB draft last week and signed with the team this weekend. It is the highest selection by

He is currently at the Mariners’ spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona, filling out paperwork and going through physical exams before reporting to Everett for the start of the season on Thursday.

Pistorese has yet to hear whether the team will work him out as a starter or a reliever.

“I’m hoping to head up there on Thursday and settle in up there in Everett. We’ll go from there, step by step,” he said.

Pistorese spent the last four years as a starting pitcher for WSU, where he posted an 8-5 record with a 2.41 ERA in his senior year. He was named the Pac-12 conference pitcher of the week twice and led the conference in complete games while setting the school record for career innings pitched and career starts. He was a two-time all-conference selection in his career and recorded 21 wins and a 2.75 ERA in 61 appearances for the Cougars.

Pistorese, who was at home in Kalispell while watching the draft, called the three-day experience, “stressful.”

“At the end of the second day — I was hoping to go in the top 10 rounds — I was really hoping I’d go early in the third day,” Pistorese said.

“Finally I got my name called. It was a little silver lining that it was the Mariners, who I’ve grown up watching my whole life. It was really exciting for me and my family.”

Pistorese is the highest Flathead grad drafted since Jim Otten was taken with the 45th overall pick in the second round by the Chicago White Sox in 1973. Otten made 64 appearances over five seasons with the White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, all but five in relief.

“I have a lot of family in Seattle and the Seattle area. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some grandparents and some relatives up there. It should be fun,” Pistorese said.

“I’m excited for sure. I’m just excited to get playing baseball.”