Jeff Randazzo

Every life has a moment that reshapes its course, often without warning. For pitcher Jeff Randazzo, that turning point came on a cold Tennessee highway just after 2 a.m. on February 18, 2002. Randazzo – the Minnesota Twins’ fourth-round pick in the 1999 draft – was asleep in the passenger seat of his SUV, bound for Fort Myers and his third spring training with the Twins.1 Behind the wheel was fellow Pennsylvanian Josh Johnson, a catcher for the Twins’ Gulf Coast League team.2 Their plan was ambitious: drive straight through to Florida without stopping. However, somewhere north of Chattanooga, Johnson dozed off and lost control of the vehicle, which flipped several times.3 Randazzo was thrown through the windshield. After he was airlifted to Erlanger Medical Center, doctors found a fractured neck and sternum, two collapsed lungs, and a ruptured aorta.4 Randazzo spent two weeks in the hospital. He lost 65 pounds from his normal 210, wore a neck brace for three months, and for a time could not even climb a flight of stairs.5

Remarkably, the 6-foot-7 southpaw made it back to the mound later that year. He hung on in the minors through June 2005, briefly making it as high as Class AA in that final season, but wasn’t the same after the accident. After his playing career ended, however, he transitioned smoothly to a new occupation in baseball: player agent.

***

Jeffrey Michael Randazzo was born on August 12, 1981, in Media, Pennsylvania. He grew up in nearby Broomall (a western suburb of Philadelphia). His parents are Mary Teresa (née Ziegenfuss) and Joseph J. Randazzo. In June 1987, Joseph founded Craftsman Home Inspection Service, Inc. in Broomall; he remains the company’s president. Mary Teresa was a secretary (she has since retired). Jeff had two brothers, Joseph Jr. and the late Albert “Al” Randazzo.6

Randazzo attended Cardinal O’Hara High School from 1996 to 1999.7 By his junior year, he had attained his full height, and his athletic ability was evident. Although Randazzo ultimately chose a future in professional baseball, he also displayed basketball talent. During his junior season, he averaged 15.5 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks per game.8 As a senior, his scoring increased to 18.8 points per game, again leading the team.9 Many observers believed he could have played Division I basketball, but Randazzo felt his baseball potential overshadowed that opportunity. “I didn’t get much early basketball interest at all,” he said. “I think those people got scared away. I was trying to keep my options open, but somebody must have put out the word that I was going for baseball.”10

On the diamond, Randazzo endured growing pains. As a sophomore, he went 1-6 and often showed frustration. “I assume [Jeff] was always head and shoulders above everyone else he played against until his sophomore year,” said his high school coach, Bill Dugan. “He couldn’t rely on his physical ability anymore. … Jeff knows … how he had to work through that. I think a kid with a smaller amount of confidence would have been shattered by that. Not Jeff. It was tough, but he bounced back.”11 As a junior, he went 7-2 with 113 strikeouts in 56 innings, a 1.06 ERA, and three shutouts. When he wasn’t pitching, he played center field and hit two home runs that season.

Randazzo didn’t refrain from expressing his opinions. When the Philadelphia Daily News asked what he thought about J.D. Drew refusing to sign with the Phillies because the team couldn’t meet his $11 million demand, Randazzo responded, “I think he’s a fool. If somebody offered me what the Phillies offered J.D. Drew [a possible $6 million, including incentives], I’d laugh, take that money and start playing as fast as possible.”12

After his junior year, Randazzo committed to the University of Tennessee to continue his baseball career.13 He made official visits to Arizona State and West Virginia, and also considered North Carolina and Delaware.14

Randazzo’s mentality was team-first. Heading into his senior year, while the upcoming draft was on his mind, his priority remained winning a Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) championship.15 “It’s my ultimate goal,” he declared. “I want to win at all costs. If we fall short, I’ll feel that we didn’t reach our fullest potential.”16

Although the Lions didn’t achieve their goal that season, Randazzo’s senior athletic campaign remained notable. He was named the Philadelphia Daily News 1999 Pitcher of the Year after compiling an 8-1 record with a 1.85 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 53 innings. In his final high school pitching appearance, he allowed just two hits, struck out 13, and homered twice.17 He also won PCL MVP honors in both baseball and basketball.18

Meanwhile, Randazzo and his family entertained numerous home visits while filling out questionnaires and personality tests from major-league organizations. One test question read, “What would you rather be, an architect or a counselor?” Randazzo replied, “I’m a pitcher! I’m not going to be designing buildings out on the mound!”19

His draft destiny depended largely on how large a signing bonus it would take to persuade him to forego his college commitment. “We never gave [scouts] a direct answer. We said we’d take it day by day and see how things worked out,” said Randazzo.20

On June 2, 1999, the suspense of draft day began to build; the usually calm 17-year-old got jittery. “Seriously, I was stayin’ cool. … But when it got to 1 and then 1:15, I was getting anxious. Really anxious.”

Finally, at 2:45 p.m. the word came from his advisor, Rick Oliver: Minnesota had selected Randazzo in the fourth round, 119th overall. “The people went a little crazy,” he recalled. “There was some yelling, a little jumping up and down.” Roughly 40 people filtered through the Randazzos’ home that afternoon offering congratulations. Randazzo quipped, “The only minus is that I’m going to an American League team—I won’t be able to hit.”21

Randazzo became, at the time, just the 12th city-league player in the draft’s history to be chosen within the top five rounds.22 He had hoped to go higher and admitted disappointment that the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t select him, despite what he described as earlier promises. “When it came time to pull the trigger, they didn’t,” he said.23 Randazzo ultimately signed just days before he was set to enroll at the University of Tennessee, agreeing to a $392,000 signing bonus.24

Even as Randazzo navigated the emotions of draft day and the start of his professional career, he was already thinking beyond the field. Before reporting to Fort Myers for spring training in 2000, Randazzo began laying the groundwork for the next phase of his baseball life. In January 2000, still just 18, he became the owner of Maple Zone Sports Institute, an instructional facility in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania.25 Although Randazzo could not yet play a major role in daily operations while spursuing his professional career, the venture allowed him to give back to the community, provide an indoor facility for players to train during the offseason, and establish a long-term foothold for the day his on-field career eventually ended.26

Randazzo’s lifelong dream was suddenly a reality. Yet the transition to pro ball didn’t slow him down. He split his debut season, 2000, between the Gulf Coast League and a brief assignment with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League. In aggregate, Randazzo finished 8-3 with a 3.26 ERA, striking out 70 in 80 innings with a 1.338 WHIP.27 He was named the Twins’ Minor League Player of the Week for the period ending August 19. He went 2-0 during that stretch, allowing just one run over 16 innings.28

Baseball America offered an encouraging early assessment: “Randazzo’s fastball is a consistent 87 mph and could get to 90-91 as he becomes a finished product. He has good spin to his curveball and a nice feel for his changeup, which he already can throw for strikes. In instructional league, he was aggressive and effective against more experienced hitters.”29

As Randazzo prepared for his second full season, one thing was clear: he couldn’t approach the sport as he had in the past. “I learned last year … that I had to gain strength, I had to pick up muscle if I wanted to remain strong through a full season.” He spent hours in the weight room back home during the offseason. “I’m a lot stronger now than when I was here last summer. I’ve always had trouble gaining weight, but I spent less time running and more time lifting during the offseason and it seems to be making a difference.”30 He also acknowledged that nutrition was a continuing challenge. “I’m not good with that at all. I can sit and eat a whole bag of Doritos.”31

Those offseason efforts paid off. Randazzo showed up to spring training in noticeably better shape. The added muscle helped him sustain his performance over longer outings. He performed so well in camp that he was named the Opening Day starter for the River Bandits. “It’s definitely an honor, but it’s just another start. I’m happy to be the one who will set the tone for the series and possibly the season,” he shared.32

Randazzo spent the entire 2001 season in Quad Cities and continued to rack up victories. His nine wins were the second most on the team. He posted a 4.62 ERA in 103.1 innings. striking out 69. The Twins hoped the young lefty would build on his first two seasons, possibly advancing to High-A in 2002. But instead, he suddenly found himself fighting for his life.

The Associated Press headline stated bluntly: “Players seriously hurt after SUV rolls over.”33 A passerby, who has remained anonymous to this day, phoned police immediately after the crash.34 That swift call likely saved Randazzo’s life.

Randazzo regained consciousness in a hospital bed, surrounded by his parents and Twins minor-league director Jim Rantz. Randazzo later described the crucial minutes: “For no real medical reason, the [aortic] tear clotted and I stopped bleeding before the paramedics arrived. If that hadn’t happened, I would have bled to death on the side of the road. The only explanation the doctors could offer was that I was in such good shape that my body sensed something terribly wrong, and the clotting was its response.”35

Doctors later explained how close he had come to not surviving. “Those things could have basically killed me, other than the sternum. The lungs collapsed, the neck could have left me paralyzed or killed me, and the aorta, most people die in seven minutes.”36

Randazzo’s survival, and his ability to pitch again, also hinged on a critical operating-room decision. The surgeon learned he was a professional pitcher and, instead of cutting through the chest, which would have ended his baseball career, operated through his back. The result was an 18-inch scar stretching down Randazzo’s spine.37

Despite the trauma, Randazzo stayed upbeat. “There’s no point being negative. It’ll prevent me from getting to the place I want to be. Being negative brings you down. I don’t let that come into play at all.” In time, he even found perspective in the ordeal. “I think it helped me build a lot of character. Baseball’s not everything. There’s more to life than the glove and the ball.”38

When Randazzo returned home to Pennsylvania to continue his recovery, he expressed his gratitude simply: “God, I was just totally happy with being alive.”39

That season, Randazzo somehow managed to appear in three innings in the Gulf Coast League. He allowed six hits and four runs (two earned) and struck out two.

The following season, Randazzo made his High-A debut with the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. He made 17 starts and logged 87 innings, striking out 35 batters with a 4.66 ERA and a 5–6 record. But his season was cut short again. In his first start of the year, he suffered a broken finger on a comebacker to the mound, which sidelined him for six weeks.40

Randazzo had never been a power pitcher, relying instead on mix and command, but the car accident and finger injury caused his fastball to drop off to 83–84 mph from 88–92.41 Looking back, Randazzo acknowledged how difficult regaining his feel and timing had been. “When you’re 6-7, you have to get a lot of things in sync. Missing all that time, I never did get it together.”42

On Friday, March 12, 2004, ahead of his fifth season in the Twins organization, Randazzo appeared on the front page of the Star Tribune’s Sports Weekend section. The headline captured his situation: “Jeff Randazzo was on the fast track in the Twins system before an auto accident nearly took his life. Now he’s back battling for a job in the minor leagues.”43

The natural question was simple: did he feel cheated? Did he believe the accident cost him his shot? Randazzo replied, “I can’t feel sorry for myself. I’m lucky, not unlucky. I’m fortunate to be alive. I would rather be living life than be in a big-league camp. And, who is to say that I would be in big-league camp even if the accident had not happened? I might have hit a plateau.” Randazzo expressed no bitterness toward Johnson, describing him as his “buddy.”44 One change he did make after the accident was replacing his old vehicle with an enormous Hummer equipped with roll bars.45

Randazzo gave his all for the Miracle in 2004. He started 26 games, leading the staff, and worked 133.1 innings, 16.1 more than the next-closest starter, Francisco Liriano. Randazzo kept his ERA under 5.00 at 4.93, finished with a 5-12 record, and struck out 79.

The Twins recognized Randazzo’s effort and durability in 2004 and afforded him another opportunity the next spring. But after opening the year with an 0-1 record in two outings for Double-A New Britain, Randazzo was released on April 21.46

“People asked why I was released. I’d just say I didn’t pitch well enough,” Randazzo stated.47

Looking back, Randazzo candidly described what the accident had cost him. “I wasn’t the same pitcher. My velocity dropped significantly to the high 70s or low 80s, and because of the surgery, my arm action didn’t work the same. My body no longer exploded the same with each pitch. Until then, everything came so naturally.”48

Yet even as his career faltered, he rejected a victim’s mindset. “A lot of people say that I had bad luck, but I prefer to look at it as good luck. I’m alive, I’m still putting on a uniform and I learned to appreciate the opportunities that I have.”49

“My agent encouraged me to think about hanging it up,” Randazzo added, “but I wasn’t ready. I felt like a fresh start might do me some good.”50

That chance arrived eight days after his release, as the St. Louis Cardinals signed him. He was assigned to High-A Palm Beach, but after posting a 0–1 record and a 9.31 ERA through eight appearances, the Cardinals reassigned him to the Swing of Quad Cities on May 27.51

Thus, nearly five years after his first appearance in the Midwest League, Randazzo found himself back where his journey had begun. He was older now, more humbled, and viewed the game through a different lens. “A lot has changed in four years. When you’ve gone through what I’ve gone through, it changes your perspective a bit. I’m still chasing the same dream but think I have a better perspective on things now.”52

It was a far cry from where he once thought he would be. “I went from thinking that I was a couple of good seasons away from the big leagues to waking up in a hospital with tubes stuck in my chest and running down my throat.”53

After joining Quad Cities, Randazzo adopted a new sidearm delivery and began adjusting to life as a reliever. “I’ve committed myself to throwing sidearm, but I’m still learning. I’m still getting used to coming out of the bullpen. That’s an entirely different mindset, something I’ve never experienced, but I’m going to try to make this work.”54

He remained grounded, even hopeful. “Everything happens for a reason, and maybe ending up with the Cardinals and ending up getting sent back here is part of the plan to make it all happen.”55

Randazzo’s teammate and roommate in Quad Cities was Rick Ankiel, who’d given up pitching after 2004 because of extreme wildness and was on the comeback trail as an outfielder.

In early June 2005, the Cardinals released Randazzo. He’d posted a 6.17 ERA in seven relief appearances for the Swing, while striking out 12 and walking eight in 11 2/3 innings.56

Many players in his position might have walked away from baseball, discouraged by the end of their dream. By contrast, Randazzo drew on the highs, setbacks, and hard-earned lessons of his own career to guide younger players along the path he had traveled. He became a sports agent.

Randazzo started with The Warner Companies, based in Timonium, Maryland, in September 2006, just one year after throwing his final pitch.57 Only 25 years old, Randazzo viewed his youth as an advantage, allowing him to connect with players with whom he had shared a locker room not long before. “The lifespan of a player is only so long, and I think what I lend to that is I’m not much older than these guys. I know what they’re going through, and what the younger guys in the minors will face up ahead.”58

From the beginning, Randazzo sought to distinguish himself from other agents by focusing on the players not as numbers or contract values, but human beings. His own experiences in the game helped sharpen that approach. “There is nothing a player has gone through that myself and the firm hasn’t gone through. The mistake a lot of players make is accepting a factory-kind of way of things, where they’re just a number. I know from experience what they’re experiencing. I work tirelessly at it, this is a 24/7, 364-day-a-year job. There is a lot of high maintenance involved. But I keep my goal simple and that’s knowing how a player wants to be treated.”59

By the time Randazzo turned 29, he was already representing 40 major-league players, 10 of whom were on 40-man rosters.60 One key to his success was simple but essential. “You have to maintain your relationships with players,” he noted, “and in the minor leagues, the contract is only as good as the paper.”61 Reflecting on the shift from the field to representation, Randazzo summed it up succinctly: “I can say I love what I do.”62

In the fall of 2012, after roughly six years with The Warner Companies, Randazzo made the leap to MVP Sports Group, led by renowned agent Dan Lozano.63 He was given more responsibility, observing, “I will be handling the East Coast – working on the draft, taking care of the players during the minor leagues and one day, when these guys get arbitration and free agency, being able to work with Danny and the rest of the team in securing these guys contracts.”64

Randazzo spent two years with MVP Sports Group before joining The Ballengee Group in September 2014. The firm quickly became one of the fastest-growing agencies in baseball, and Randazzo made a name for himself there. His client list added notable MLB talent including Mason Miller, Tommy Kahnle, Zach Agnos, Gavin Sheets, Tim Mayza, Graham Pauley, and Brenton Doyle.65 Randazzo has also been linked to flamethrower Jordan Hicks,66 as well as left-hander Jason Groome.67 He also represents starting pitcher Alek Manoah and outfielders LaMonte Wade Jr and Chas McCormick.68 Overall, Randazzo has represented 16 first-round draft picks.69

In May 2021, Maple Zone Sports Institute, where Randazzo had taken on an increasingly significant role in daily operations since his retirement in 2005 while balancing his career as an agent, underwent a full transformation and rebranded as Ascent Athlete.70

In May 2023, Randazzo was honored by Cardinal O’Hara, which officially retired his No. 47 jersey.71 He said, “O’Hara is where everything happened. … It was a catalyst for me.”72 Coach Bill Dugan was there and reflected on Randazzo’s spirit. “He was a unique competitor, he hated to lose. I remember when he was a sophomore. He didn’t have a good year but he still pitched very, very well. If things didn’t go his way, he never wavered. You can always tell who your better players are by the way they act, so I knew then … that he was different.”73 Dugan also recounted a long-held memory. “It was the seventh inning or something. … I went out … to check on him. … He looks at me, puts his hand up to stop me and says, ‘Don’t worry, coach. I got it.’”74

That fall, Randazzo was also inducted into the Cardinal O’Hara Hall of Fame.75

Despite Randazzo’s success with Ballengee, their relationship ended unexpectedly in August 2025. The Athletic described his firing as a “considerable shakeup for the company.”76 Randazzo declined to comment on what led to the split, offering instead a measured response. “Ballengee Group … and I have represented players very responsibly. We have all taken great pride in that. This is not about athlete representation. Jeff [Borris] and I were terminated. We love Ballengee Group. We built Ballengee Group. And we’re working on an amicable resolution for both sides.”77

A clear sign of Randazzo’s influence emerged right away: at least 17 of his major-league clients asked to be placed on the Do Not Contact list for other certified agents. “The flood of players who made the request, which goes through the MLB Players Association, is unusual. It reflects the desire of those players not to hear from other agents who might want to represent them,” reported The Athletic.78

Once again, much like when his playing career ended, Randazzo found himself searching for answers. As he had done when shifting from player to agent, he took another leap of faith. He bet on himself, co-founding his own agency, Covenant Sports Group, where he would be president.79 The new firm immediately made waves. Twenty-two major-leaguers joined Randazzo at Covenant, along with 13 minor-leaguers, including the Cardinals’ top prospect. JJ Wetherholt.80 Randazzo didn’t lose a single client during the transition, underscoring the trust and loyalty he had built.81

“Challenge the status quo in player representation,” Randazzo declared when asked about the vision for his new agency. “The goal is to double down on what I’ve been doing with these guys. Now that I’m at the forefront of the group, this allows me to control our destinies.”82

The agency’s guiding message: “It’s more than a contract, it’s a Covenant.”83

Pressed again by The Athletic about the circumstances that led to his termination from Ballengee Group, Randazzo said, “We had a good run. I wish them the best of luck.”84

What do you do when life veers off course? When the future you spent your entire life imagining and fully expected, changes forever? How do you respond, rebuild, find your way back? The answers aren’t simple, and the path is never easy. Life ebbs and flows, just as baseball does. But Randazzo shows that hard work, perseverance, and unwavering belief in yourself can help chart a new course.

For Randazzo, that course remains rooted in family and community. He is married to Briana Finney, a father of three, and a stepfather to one.85 No matter where baseball has taken him, he has always returned to his roots, the place that shaped him, carried him through his darkest moments, and welcomed him back when his arm could no longer carry the dream. Randazzo himself put it best: “Business is in Garnet Valley, we live in Newtown Square. I’ll be buried in Saints Peter and Paul.”86

Jeff Randazzo proves that when life takes an unexpected turn, you can still rebuild, move forward, and find your way home.

Last revised: December 21, 2025

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Jeff Randazzo for his input (via text message, December 6, 2025).

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Mike Eisenbath and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted baseball-reference.com.

Notes

1 As a Twins minor-leaguer, Randazzo wasn’t scheduled to report to spring training until March 8, but he chose to arrive several weeks early.

2 Josh Johnson was born in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, and was selected by the Twins in the 25th round of the 2001 amateur draft out of Ridgway High School. He played eight seasons in the minor leagues and four years in independent ball. He is now the president of BWP Bats, a wooden bat manufacturer based in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

3 As a result of the accident, Johnson was briefly on a ventilator with a head injury. His injuries were said to be less serious than Randazzo’s.

4 Joseph Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent,” Patch, July 28, 2011, https://patch.com/pennsylvania/springfield-pa/ohara-grad-makes-it-as-sports-agent.

5 Steve Batterson, “Offseason wasn’t easy for Randazzo,” Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa). April 5, 2001:16.

6 “Albert E. ‘Al’ Randazzo.” Delaware County Daily & Sunday Times, November 26–27, 2013.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/delcotimes/name/albert-randazzo-obituary?id=7132743.

7 Cardinal O’Hara High School is a coeducational Catholic institution within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Named after John Francis O’Hara, who served as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1951 to 1960, the school is located in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and enrolls approximately 900 students.

8 Chris Morkides, “On the court, he is part of winning mix,” Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1998:173.

9 Ted Silary, “Cardinal O’Hara (Springfield, PA) — Basketball, Catholic League History,” TedSilary.com, accessed November 16, 2025, https://tedsilary.com/oharabaskpoints.htm. Randazzo totaled 570 points during his senior season, counting both regular-season and playoff games.

10 Ted Silary, “Randazzo’s motto lately: ‘Roll the tape,’” Philadelphia Daily News. January 20, 1999:68. While on the basketball team, Randazzo was described by his coach as a “Q-Tip All-Star,” a nod to his tall but slender frame. “I have no chest whatsoever,” Randazzo admitted.

11 Joe Santoliquito, “Jeff Randazzo tries to fill a void,” Philadelphia Inquirer. March 22, 1999: 27.

12 Ted Silary, “O’Hara pitcher worth millions to teammates,” Philadelphia Daily News. May 27, 1998: 58.

13 Dan Fleser, “Crowe, Rundles among 5 pitchers signed by UT,” Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel, November 20, 1998:35. Randazzo got on Tennessee’s radar through University of Tennessee assistant coach and fellow Pennsylvanian Randy Mazey. Mazey, a Johnstown, Pennsylvania native, coached at the University of Tennessee from 1992 to 2002. He has also held coaching positions at Charleston Southern, the University of Georgia, East Carolina, and TCU, and in 2013 he became the head coach at West Virginia University. Mazey is 336–250 at WVU and is the third-winningest coach in the program’s history.

14 Silary, “Randazzo’s motto lately: ‘Roll the tape.’”

15 The Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL), founded in 1920, is composed of Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia region and includes major sports such as basketball, football, baseball, and track & field. Notable member schools include St. Joseph’s Prep, Roman Catholic, La Salle College High School, Neumann-Goretti, Archbishop Wood, Archbishop Carroll, Cardinal O’Hara, and Bonner-Prendergast. The league joined the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) in 2008.

16 Santoliquito, “Jeff Randazzo tries to fill a void.”

17 Ted Silary, “Mound of praise,” Philadelphia Daily News, June 16, 1999: 104.

18 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

19 Silary, “Randazzo’s motto lately: ‘Roll the tape.’”

20 Ted Silary “It’s Twins for Lions’ Randazzo,” Philadelphia Daily News. June 3, 1999: 97

21 Silary, “Mound of praise.”

22 Silary, “It’s Twins for Lions’ Randazzo.”

23 Silary, “It’s Twins for Lions’ Randazzo.”

24 Patrick Reusse, “Getting back up to speed,” Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), March 12, 2004: C12.

25 Jeff Randazzo’s LinkedIn page

26 Maple Zone Sports Institute, commonly known as MSI, became a haven for local baseball players. MSI offered batting, pitching, and hitting instruction, a full indoor turf infield, a weight room for strength training, and travel teams for ages 13–18. In its new incarnation as Ascent Athlete, Randazzo now serves as managing partner and owner. The business model remains similar, centered on baseball training, player development, lessons, and travel teams. Although the name Maple Zone Sports Institute still exists, it is now a completely separate operation under different ownership, functioning solely as an outdoor multi-sport complex. Randazzo is not involved with the outdoor facility.

27 Randazzo went 7–2 with a 3.15 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 68.2 innings for the Gulf Coast League Twins. He also made two appearances with Quad Cities, posting a 1–1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11.1 innings.

28 Gordon Wittenmyer, “No relief for Twins,” Duluth (Minnesota) News Tribune, August 21, 2000: 14.

29 “Jeff Randazzo,” Baseball America. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/654609-jeff-randazzo/.

30 Batterson, “Offseason wasn’t easy for Randazzo.”

31 Cheri Bustos, “Get fit with the pros,” Quad-City Times. September 4, 2000: 18.

32 Tom Johnson, “Bandits pitching staff well-stocked,” Rock Island (Iowa) Argus, April 5, 2001: 28.

33 “Players Seriously Hurt After SUV Rolls Over,” Associated Press, February 18, 2002, https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2002/0218/1335876.html.

34 Steve Batterson, “Back In the Q-C,” Quad City Times. June 8, 2005: 39.

35 Todd Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect,” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 23, 2003: E02. Randazzo also remembered fragments of the crash itself. “I remember laying on the ground talking to Josh a little bit. I asked Josh what had happened. He said he didn’t know. I said, ‘What do you mean you don’t know? We just flipped like 26 times.’”

36 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

37 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

38 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

39 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

40 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

41 Zolecki, “Second chance for Twins prospect.”

42 Reusse, “Getting back up to speed.”

43 Reusse, “Getting back up to speed.”

44 Reusse, “Getting back up to speed.”

45 Reusse, “Getting back up to speed.”

46 Rob Parent, “Randazzo riding roller coaster of pro career,” Philadelphia Inquirer. June 8, 2005: D08.

47 Parent, “Randazzo riding roller coaster of pro career.”

48 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

49 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

50 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

51 Parent, “Randazzo riding roller coaster of pro career.”

52 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

53 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

54 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

55 Batterson, “Back In the Q-C.”

56 “Back in Action,” Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa). June 13, 2005:12

57 Jeff Randazzo’s LinkedIn page, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-randazzo-98076015/.

58 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

59 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

60 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

61 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

62 Santoliquito, “O’Hara Grad Makes It as Sports Agent.”

63 Dan Lozano has negotiated some of the largest contracts in baseball, including Manny Machado’s 10-year, $300 million deal, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year, $340 million contract, Josh Donaldson’s four-year, $92 million agreement with the Minnesota Twins, Albert Pujols’s 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million extension with the Cincinnati Reds.

64 Darren Heitner, “Dan Lozano’s MVP Sports Group Hires Baseball Agent Jeff Randazzo,” Sports Agent Blog, November 15, 2012, https://sportsagentblog.com/2012/11/15/dan-lozanos-mvp-sports-group-hires-baseball-agent-jeff-randazzo/.

65 Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli, “MLB Agents Fired: Inside the Ballengee Group Shakeup,” The New York Times, September 3, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6596024/2025/09/03/mlb-agents-ballengee-firings-randazzo-borris/.

66 Keith Groller, “Easton Baseball Prospect Luke Storm Has Options — Will He Be Drafted or Head to Duke University?” The Morning Call, June 6, 2020, https://www.mcall.com/2020/06/06/easton-baseball-prospect-luke-storm-has-options-will-he-be-drafted-or-head-to-duke-university/. Jordan Hicks is best known for his fastball, which touched 105.1 mph in 2018.

67 Ian Browne, “Red Sox Sign Top Draft Pick Jason Groome,” MLB.com, July 14, 2016, https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-sign-top-draft-pick-jason-groome-c189678038. Jason Groome was the Boston Red Sox’s 12th overall pick in the 2016 draft and received a $3.65 million signing bonus, exceeding MLB’s slot recommendation of $3,192,800.

68 Matt Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him,” Delaware County Times, May 15, 2023, https://www.delcotimes.com/2023/05/15/for-jeff-randazzo-ohara-was-where-everything-happened-for-him/.

69 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

70 Randazzo continues to serve as managing partner and owner of Ascent Athlete (www.ascentathlete.com).

71 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

72 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

73 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

74 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

75 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.”

76 Rosenthal and Ghiroli, “MLB Agents Fired: Inside the Ballengee Group Shakeup.”

77 Rosenthal and Ghiroli, “MLB Agents Fired: Inside the Ballengee Group Shakeup.” Jeff Borris is an MLB sports agent who once represented Barry Bonds and was terminated from Ballengee alongside Randazzo.

78 Rosenthal and Ghiroli, “MLB Agents Fired: Inside the Ballengee Group Shakeup.”

79 Agents joining Randazzo at Covenant Sports Group include Jeff Borris, along with Chris Lemonis and Nick Tiano, the latter also serving as the company’s co-founder.

80 JJ Wetherholt was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft and signed for $6.8 million on July 20, 2024. In 2025, he was chosen for the All-Star Futures Game and, that same year, earned both the Texas League Most Valuable Player Award and the International League Top MLB Prospect Award.

81 Katie Woo, “Covenant Group’s Shake-Up: Ballengee, Jeff Randazzo & Mason Miller,” The New York Times, October 17, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6726604/2025/10/17/covenant-group-ballengee-jeff-randazzo-mason-miller/.

82 Woo, “Covenant Group’s Shake-Up: Ballengee, Jeff Randazzo & Mason Miller.”

83 Jeff Randazzo’s LinkedIn page. Randazzo also made a public announcement on LinkedIn, writing: “Excited to announce I’ve become – President, Co-Founder, Owner of Covenant Sports Group. CSG. Truth is, those titles mean very little when it comes to representation of Athletes. Why? Because the athletes are the owners! They are the boss. I’m just blessed to be able to quarterback their careers. Optimize there [sic] values on and off the field. Navigate their own personal and professional gauntlet of professional baseball. I’ve always and will continue to always put the players first at all costs!”

84 Jeff Randazzo’s LinkedIn page

85 Briana Finney played basketball at Saint Joseph’s University during the 2003–2004 season.

86 Smith, “For Jeff Randazzo, O’Hara Was Where Everything Happened for Him.” Ascent Athlete is located in Garnet Valley, while Randazzo’s home in Newtown Square sits roughly 13 miles away. Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield, about three miles from his hometown of Broomall, is where Randazzo’s late brother Al is buried. Garnet Valley, Newtown Square, Broomall, and Springfield all lie within Delaware County, colloquially known as “Delco,” the fifth-most populous county in Pennsylvania.