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The pregame bio on Adam Giacalone, the Slammers’ starting pitcher last Sunday, was more than a little unusual for a hurler:

“Giacalone provided the pop for the Slammers in 2014, blasting 10 home runs and driving in 56.”

It wasn’t a misprint. The 6-foot-2 Giacalone compiled those numbers last year as Joliet’s first baseman.

This season, before he goes back to school to prepare for the business world, Giacalone wanted to return to the mound in his bid to reach affiliated baseball.

“I wanted to give myself one chance to pitch,” he said. “When I got drafted, I told my parents If it didn’t work out at first base, I wanted to try to pitch.”

The 23-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, native has pitched a few innings in relief for the Slammers, but Sunday’s game was his first start since 2012, when he was a first baseman/pitcher at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas.

Giacalone threw 72 pitches over five innings Sunday and allowed just three hits and one earned run.

Joliet manager Jeff Isom, who had Giacalone on the Milwaukee Brewers’ advanced rookie affiliate three years ago, tipped Giacalone off a couple days before the start that it could be soon.

“He was very anxious to get the start,” Isom said. “He was asking (Saturday) night after the game, ‘Am I going to get this?’ ‘Here you go, it’s your turn. You’ve been wanting the ball? Show us what you’re capable of doing.’ I tip my cap to Adam. He took the opportunity and ran with it.”

Kevin McNorton got the win in relief while Giacalone, with a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings, may have earned something just as valuable.

“It’s something you could see in the future, him going out there every fifth day and being a starter for us,” Isom said after Sunday’s game.

Pitching isn’t a whim for Giacalone. He started on the mound once a week in college and played first base the rest of the time. He has one of Neosho’s five no-hitters and was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.

Giacalone signed to play at the University of Tennessee, but opted for the Brewers after they drafted him in 2012. He spent two years in their organization before coming to the Slammers last year.

“This is my fourth year in pro ball and I’ve loved every second of it,” he said.

That includes the 15-inning finale last year when Giacalone pitched two of his three innings for the season.

“From that point on, it was, ‘Do you want to come back next year,”’ he said. “I was all for it. I’ll give it one more shot.”

After a couple early-season relief appearances, Giacalone was put on the 14-day injured list to work on his mechanics. He has been in the regular lineup for seven games this season.

“It’s pretty difficult,” Giacalone said of the two-part role. “I enjoy it, I think it’s cool.”

But …

“There’s more to life than baseball, and I understand that,” he said. “That hit me a lot this offseason. Having my son was one of the coolest moments ever.”

Giacalone lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, Shelbi, and their infant son, Nathan.

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“My wife is so supportive,” he said. “My wife, her family, my family. They want me to ride it out.”

Giacalone is getting the chance to do just that.

Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.

Traverse City 3, Slammers 1

Summary: Nate Roberts delivered a two-out single that brought in Max Casper and tied the score 1-1 in the sixth. Casper beat out an infield grounder for a hit and eventually went to third on an errant pickoff attempt by pitcher Ian MacDougall. Traverse City (27-12) went ahead 2-1 in the seventh on a wild pitch.

Key moment: Joliet’s Phil Bates had a leadoff double in the fifth, but was stranded at second.

By the numbers: Beach Bums left-hander MacDougall was 5-1 going into Wednesday’s game, but opponents’ .281 average indicates he hasn’t kept batters off the bases. The Slammers (18-23) were held to four hits and had three errors.

Up next: Traverse City (TBA) at Slammers (Kevin Walter 1-2), 7:05 p.m. Thursday.