HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Miami Marlins selected Cal State East Bay senior
Alex Vesia in the 17th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday, making him the 507th overall pick.
Vesia is the fourth CSUEB player selected -- and the highest pick -- in the MLB Draft since the program joined NCAA Division II and the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2009, joining Devin Grigg (2010), Charlie Sharrer (2013), and Myles Babitt (2016).
"This has been a dream of mine since I was a sophomore in high school," Vesia said. "I am so thankful that the Marlins have given me this opportunity. I have to thank my coaches and East Bay, my family, and everyone who has supported me from the beginning. It has been an amazing journey these past four years at East Bay."
Vesia is a three-time All-CCAA honoree, a two-time All-West Region selection, and he was voted CSUEB's 2017-18 Male Athlete of the Year.
The southpaw enjoyed his best season as a senior, posting an 8-2 record in 78.2 innings. He ranked No. 2 in the CCAA in wins, earned run average, strikeouts, and opponent batting average. His 1.95 ERA is the lowest by a Pioneer pitcher in the CCAA era (among qualified starters), and he rattled off a streak of 45 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run during March and April. Vesia was twice named CCAA Pitcher of the Week during that stretch.
The Alpine, Calif. native also cemented his place as one of the best hurlers in the history of Pioneer baseball. This season he became Cal State East Bay's all-time leader in career wins (24), strikeouts (249), and innings pitched (313.2). He also boasts the 10th-best career ERA in program history at 3.01.
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