Mario Joseph Loperfido—everyone calls him Joey—hit a two-RBI single in his first Major League at-bat on April 30, 2024. His father Joe cried through the entire FaceTime call when Joey shared the news of his call-up. Sixteen family members and friends flew from New Jersey wearing brand new Loperfido #10 jerseys to watch him make MLB history at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Born May 11, 1999, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Joey is now 26 years old and living a baseball journey nobody saw coming. He walked onto Duke University’s baseball team as an unrecruited player. Four years later, he’d won Duke’s first-ever ACC Championship and earned tournament MVP honors. Three years after that, In early 2026, he returned to the Houston Astros organization following an offseason trade.
The New Jersey Kid Who Played Every Position
Joey grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey, a small town where he attended Haddonfield Memorial High School. His parents Joe and Amy Loperfido raised him alongside his sister Olivia in a sports-focused household that valued hard work over shortcuts.
At Haddonfield, Joey was a three-year letterwinner who played shortstop. He earned All-Colonial Conference and All-South Jersey honors both his junior and senior years. Rawlings-Perfect Game named him an Honorable Mention All-American in 2017, ranking him the 84th-best shortstop nationally in his recruiting class.
But here’s the truth—nobody recruited him for Division I baseball. No scholarships came. No offers. Despite solid high school numbers, college programs passed him over. So when Duke University offered him a chance to walk on without scholarship money, he took it.
He also played soccer in high school, showing the multi-sport athleticism that would later help him play every defensive position except pitcher and catcher professionally.
The Duke Years: From Walk-On to ACC Champion
Joey arrived at Duke in 2017 as a walk-on, meaning he paid his own way while competing against scholarship athletes for playing time. Most walk-ons never see significant minutes. Joey became a four-year starter who changed Duke baseball history.
During his first three college seasons (2018-2020), he hit just five home runs total. His power wasn’t there yet. But his baseball IQ, defensive versatility, and clutch hitting kept him in the lineup.
In summer 2018, he played for the Kalamazoo Growlers in the Northwoods League, hitting .471 and helping the team reach playoffs for the first time. In 2019, he played Cape Cod League baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers—the premier summer league where MLB scouts evaluate talent.
His senior season in 2021 brought everything together. Duke won the ACC Championship for the first time in school history, and Joey earned tournament MVP honors. Over four years at Duke, he hit .317 with 18 homers, 96 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in 170 games.
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According to Baseball Reference, Joey’s college career established him as a complete player—he could hit for average, steal bases, play multiple positions, and deliver in big moments.
Draft Day and Minor League Dominance
The Houston Astros selected Joey in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft. Seventh-round picks rarely make the majors—it’s not a slam dunk, it’s a long shot that requires exceptional development.
He started professionally in 2021 with Single-A Fayetteville, then split 2022 between Fayetteville and High-A Asheville. His 2023 season changed everything.
Playing for Double-A Corpus Christi, Joey hit .296 with 19 homers, 57 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in just 84 games. He became the first Astros minor leaguer since 2010 to post 25+ homers and 25+ steals in a single season (he finished with exactly 25 of each across all levels).
His power transformation was remarkable. After hitting five home runs in three college seasons, he refined his swing mechanics in professional ball to unlock 25-homer power. Baseball America named him Astros Minor League Player of the Year for 2023.
MLB Debut and Emotional Family Moment
On April 30, 2024, Joey made his MLB debut for Houston. The moment was captured perfectly by the Houston Chronicle, his father Joe stood behind home plate, unable to speak after crying through Joey’s FaceTime call announcing the news.
“It was an unusual time of day for him to FaceTime, right after a game like that,” Joe said. “I was like, ‘Oh boy, it’s a FaceTime. Get this. This could be something good.’ But then I couldn’t speak after that.”
Joey’s mother Amy stayed more composed, but the pride was overwhelming. Sixteen people flew in—parents, sister Olivia, girlfriend Faith Reilly, and friends—all wearing new Loperfido jerseys purchased at the stadium team store moments after arriving.
In his MLB debut, Joey singled in his second at-bat, driving in two runs. He received three standing ovations from the Houston crowd. It was the perfect start to his big league career.
The Trade to Toronto and World Series Run
After playing 38 games for Houston (.236 average, 2 HRs), Joey was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, 2024, along with Jake Bloss and Will Wagner in exchange for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
With Toronto in 2024, he struggled initially, hitting .197 in 43 games. But in 2025, everything clicked. Playing mostly for Triple-A Buffalo with brief MLB stints, he dominated when called up—hitting .333 with four homers and a .879 OPS in 41 games.
The Blue Jays reached the 2025 World Series, and Joey replaced Anthony Santander on the ALCS roster. He got to play baseball’s biggest stage just 18 months after his MLB debut—a remarkable rise for a former walk-on seventh-round pick.
In February 2026, the Blue Jays traded Joey back to Houston for outfielder Jesús Sánchez, bringing him full circle to where his MLB career began.
Girlfriend Faith Reilly
Joey has been dating Faith Ann Reilly since at least 2024. Faith was born February 6, 2000, in Livingston, New Jersey, to parents Bill and Cheryl Reilly. She has an older brother named Will.
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Faith graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University’s Freeman College of Management with a degree in markets, innovation and design. She played Division I lacrosse at Bucknell until injury ended her athletic career. She founded the Bison Finance Society to help students break into finance and served as vice president of her sorority.
After graduation, Faith moved to Philadelphia to work as a private wealth management financial analyst. She and Joey frequently post about each other on social media, showing a supportive relationship built on mutual respect for each other’s careers and ambitions.
Physical Profile and Playing Style
Joey stands 6’2″ (188 cm) tall and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). He’s a left-handed batter who throws right-handed—a combination that creates unique matchup advantages.
His nickname is “Joe Cooks,” referencing his hot bat when he’s locked in. He plays outfield primarily (left and right field) but has played every position except pitcher and catcher professionally, showcasing incredible athleticism and baseball instincts.
He plays guitar and piano, often performing for teammates during minor league road trips—showing there’s more to him than baseball.
Net Worth and MLB Earnings
Financial Disclaimer: Earnings estimates are based on MLB salary data and publicly available contract information.
Joey’s estimated net worth is between $400,000-$600,000 as of early 2026. His income comes from:
MLB Salary: As a player with less than three years of service time, Joey earns near the MLB minimum salary of approximately $750,000 annually. His two seasons split between majors and minors generated roughly $500,000-$700,000 total.
Signing Bonus: His 2021 seventh-round selection included a signing bonus of approximately $75,000-$150,000 (typical for that draft position).
Minor League Salaries: From 2021-2024, minor league salaries ranged from $11,000-$35,000 annually depending on level.
His financial breakthrough came when he made the majors, but as a young player still establishing himself, he hasn’t reached arbitration eligibility or free agency where salaries increase dramatically.
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