Worcester Natives Set to Take Part in World Series

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Shaun McNamara

The World Series begins tonight between the National League Champion, New York Mets, and the American League Champion, Kansas City Royals. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on Fox.

This year's World Series will involve three Worcester natives, two for the Mets and one for the Royals. For the Mets, Shaun McNamara, a scout, and J.P. Ricciardi, special assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson.

For Kansas City, pitcher Tim Collins is out for the year having Tommy John surgery but is an important part of the Royals future and helped them get to the Series last season.

Shaun McNamara

McNamara, pitched for Holy Name High School in Worcester, and later for Brown University, was Can-Am League Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 2006 for the North Shore Spirit. McNamara also spent time with Worcester's former Can-Am team, the Tornadoes.

After the Tornadoes, McNamara spent time with Amherst College as a pitching coach before moving up to the Washington Nationals on an internship that lasted till the end of the 2011 season. McNamara has been with the New York Mets ever since.

J.P. Ricciardi

J.P. Ricciardi

Ricciardi joined the New York Mets in 2010 as Special Assistant to the General Manager have serving as the General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays for nine seasons.

Ricciardi was born in Worcester and went to St. Peter-Marian High School. Following a college career at St.Leo’s in Florida and a brief stint with the New York Mets Single-A team, Ricciardi went on to become a coach in the minor league system with the New York Yankees in the early 1980s.

Tim Collins

Collins is a former pitching star at Worcester Technical High School where he threw a no-hitter against Auburn in his senior season, in 2007.

Collins was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays right out of high school and then traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2010. Two weeks later, Collins was traded to Kansas City
Collins is eligible for arbitration after this season and will be a free agent in 2017.

Ricciardi, McNamara and Collins give the city of Worcester someone to root for in this year's World Series. No matter which team wins the Series, Worcester will win.