Eight 2009 UCSB baseball players have signed contracts with major league teams and many have already reported to their minor league clubs.
Third-round draft pick Joe Gardner, chosen 94th overall by the Cleveland Indians, has signed a contract. Gardner, who was an All-Big West First Team selection, was the highest-drafted player in the Big West, a conference that had two nationally-ranked teams in the NCAA postseason and has featured at least one team in the College World Series in eight of the past 11 seasons. UCSB led the Big West with nine total draftees.
Ryan Cavan (16th round, San Francisco Giants), Brian Gump (26th round, Philadelphia Phillies), Robby Cummings (28th round, Chicago White Sox), Shane Carlson (32nd round, Cincinnati Reds), Forrest Cannon (34th round, Cincinnati Reds), Eric Oliver (36th round, Los Angeles Angels) and Zach Samuels (free agent contract, Detroit Tigers) have all signed contracts.
All but Gardner and Samuels have begun their professional careers with their minor league teams. Follow all of their progress in the minors through our website at UCSBgauchos.com.
“Its really good to have these players sign because one of the things we tell our guys when they get here is that we have three goals – that we want to play for a championship, that they graduate and to give them an opportunity to go on and play professionally. It’s all intertwined,” UCSB head coach Bob Brontsema said. “It’s nice that most of these guys are graduating and at the same time they’re also getting a chance to play professionally.”
Two Gauchos who have not yet signed – and therefore might return to UCSB – are junior infielder Matt Valaika and sophomore pitcher Mario Hollands.
Valaika, an All-Big West Honorable Mention selection, led the Gauchos with a .343 batting average and .545 slugging percentage this past season and was chosen in the 20th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Hollands, the Gauchos’ Saturday starter, was 6-6 with a 4.74 ERA and was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 24th round. Both players are currently playing summer league baseball – Valaika with the Santa Barbara Foresters and Hollands with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League. They have until August 17 to sign with their respective clubs.
“It’s a strong case of them coming back and we eagerly await the deadline to come and go,” Brontsema said.
