Westbury Pitcher Seelinger Earns Tigers Spring Training Invite

After a decade in the minors, the 30-year-old reliever gets his shot at the majors.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 5:18pm

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After a decade of grinding through the minor leagues, Westbury native right-handed reliever Matt Seelinger has earned a spring training roster invite with the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. Seelinger's journey has been marked by perseverance, patience and belief, as he worked his way up from not receiving any Division 1 or 2 college offers to becoming the first drafted player in SUNY Farmingdale history.

Why it matters

Seelinger's story highlights the dedication and resilience required to make it to the major leagues, especially for players who don't get the traditional path. His success also reflects well on the strong baseball tradition in the Westbury community and the coaching of Tom Abruscato, who has helped develop numerous professional players.

The details

Seelinger, now 30 years old, has played in the minor league systems of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers over the past decade. In 2025, he had a standout season at the AA and AAA levels for the Tigers, going 8-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 65 innings. Seelinger credits his high school coach Abruscato for providing the foundation for his success, and Abruscato has now visited Seelinger at Tigers camp to show his support.

  • Seelinger was selected in the 28th round of the 2017 MLB draft.
  • In 2025, Seelinger was 8-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 65 innings pitching for Detroit's AA Erie SeaWolves and AAA Toledo Mud Hens.
  • Earlier this month, Abruscato surprised Seelinger with a visit to the Tigers' camp.

The players

Matt Seelinger

A 30-year-old right-handed reliever from Westbury, New York who has earned a spring training roster invite with the Detroit Tigers after a decade in the minor leagues.

Tom Abruscato

Seelinger's high school coach at W.T. Clarke High School in Westbury, who has built a strong baseball program that has helped develop 26 professional players, including 3 who made it to the major leagues.

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What they’re saying

“My love for the game and putting my all into it, and the support of my family and friends has earned me this opportunity. I always had it ingrained into me that if I wanted to continue climbing the ladder, I had to put in the work.”

— Matt Seelinger

“We're all excited for him because he's worked so hard to get his spot on the roster.”

— Tom Abruscato, High School Coach

What’s next

Seelinger will continue competing for a spot on the Tigers' major league roster during spring training in Lakeland, Florida.

The takeaway

Seelinger's perseverance and dedication to his craft over the past decade, despite not getting the traditional path to the majors, serves as an inspiring example of how hard work and belief in oneself can pay off, even for players who may be overlooked early in their careers.