| Posted January 18, 2013 |  |
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CSU-Pueblo Baseball alums in the pros
CURRENT PRO PLAYERS | FORMER PRO PLAYERS | DRAFTED PLAYERS
DID HALL-OF-FAMER RICH GOSSAGE PLAY AT CSU-PUEBLO?
Colorado State University-Pueblo baseball has a rich tradition of pro baseball players coming through its program. To date, 26 ThunderWolves have gotten a shot with a Major League team, with 18 of which having been drafted, while many players have played professionally in independent baseball leagues throughout the nation.
If you have a name of another CSU-Pueblo/University of Southern Colorado/Southern Colorado State College/Pueblo Junior College alum who played professional baseball at any level, please submit that person's name to sports information director Anthony Sandstrom at anthony.sandstrom@colostate-pueblo.edu and get them included on this list.
To learn more about the careers of ThunderWolves in the pros, click on their names.
ODDBALL TRIVIA Q & A: Did Major League Hall of Famer Goose Gossage play at CSU-Pueblo?
A: Not officially. The question arises since Gossage's Profile on thebaseballcube.com lists his college as CSU-Pueblo. However, his profile on another baseball enyclopedia website, Baseball-Reference.com, makes no mention of CSU-Pueblo.
The truth of the matter is Gossage DID attend CSU-Pueblo --- After being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1970, he enrolled at CSU-Pueblo following his high school career at Wasson High School in Colorado Springs. He gave it the "old college try" as it were, enrolling at the University for one quarter before choosing to focus on baseball. But he never took the field representing the University.
He did, however, appear in the University's 1970 yearbook.
Current Pro Players
| NAME | YEARS AT CSUP | ORGANIZATION (High Level) |
| Mike Massaro | 2003-05 | Gary (IN) Southshore RailCats (Northern League - Ind.), 2009-Pres.; Oakland Athletics (Sacramento RiverCats, AAA), 2005-08 (Drafted in 13th round of 2005 MLB Draft by Oakland). |
| Ryan Priddy | 2004-05 | Sioux City (IA) Explorers (American Association), 2011-Pres., Tucson (AZ) Toros (Golden League - Ind.), 2009-10; St. Paul Saints (Independent), 2007-08; Lincoln (Ind.), 2006; Pensacola (Ind.), 2005. |
| Eric Bloom | 2009-10 | Edinburg Roadrunners (United Baseball League), 2012-Pres.; Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League), 2011. |
| Cole Stephens | 2010-11 | Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (North American League), 2012-Pres., Somerton Stingers (Arizona Winter League), 2012. |
Former Pro Players
| NAME | YEARS AT CSUP | ORGANIZATION (High Level) |
| Frank DeLeon | 1950-51 | Brooklyn Dodgers (Great Falls - C, 1954; Bakersfield - C, 1955; Cedar Rapids - B, 1955) |
| Jerry Hummitzch | 1959-60 | Milwaukee Braves (Austin - AA, 1962-63; Cedar Rapids - B, 1961; Boise - C, 1962; Eau Claire - C, 1961). Was a top pitching prospect in the Braves' organization before being killed in an auto accident in 1963. |
| Pat Bekeza | 1966-69 | Minnesota Twins (St. Cloud - A, 1969-70; Wisconsin Rapids - A, 1969) (Drafted in 4th round of Jun. 1969 MLB Draft by Minnesota; Drafted in 3rd round of Jan. 1969 MLB Draft by Oakland; Drafted in 20th round of June 1968 MLB Draft by San Francisco). |
| Dennis Jones | 1967-70 | Oakland Athletics (Birmingham - AA, 1973; Burlington - A, 1970, 72-73). (Drafted in 23rd round of June 1970 MLB Draft by Oakland). |
| Craig Lown | 1968-71 | Chicago White Sox (Gulf Coast - R, 1971; Walla Walla - A, 1972; Appleton - A, 1972). (Drafted in 1st round of June 1971 Secondary Draft by Chicago White Sox) |
| Marvin Tucker | 1969 | New York Mets (Danville - A, 1970). (Drafted in 6th round of Jan. 1970 MLB Draft by New York Mets). |
| Roy Peterson | 1970-71 | Los Angeles Dodgers (Ogden - R, 1971). (Drafted in 4th round of June 1971 Secondary Draft by Los Angeles). |
| Chris Serazio | 1978-81 | Texas Rangers (Gulf Coast - R, 1981). (Drafted in 14th round of 1981 MLB Draft by Texas). |
| Dan Simpson | 1982-83 | Texas Rangers (Salem - A, 1984-85; Tri-City - A, 1983). (Drafted in 19th round of 1983 MLB Draft by Texas). |
| Robert Burke | 1984-85 | Atlanta Braves (Gulf Coast - R, 1985). (Drafted in 19th round of 1985 MLB Draft by Atlanta). |
| Brian Jackson | 1998 | Cleveland Indians (Kinston - A, 2001-02; Mahoning Valley - A, 1999-2000; Burlington - R, 1998; Waterton - R, 1998), Pittsburgh Pirates (Lynchburg - A, 2002; Hickory - A, 2002). (Drafted in 14th round of 1998 MLB Draft by Cleveland). |
| Anthony Taylor | 1998 | Oakland Athletics (Arizona League - R, 1998). (Drafted in 30th round of 1998 MLB Draft by Oakland). |
| Roddy Friar | 1999-00 | St. Louis Cardinals (Potomac Cannons - A, 2001; Peoria Chiefs - A, 2001; New Jersey Cardinals - A, 2000) (Drafted in 12th round of 2000 MLB Draft by St. Louis.) |
| Kevin Martin | 2000-01 | Cleveland Indians (Akron - AA, 2003; Kinston - A, 2003; Lake County - A, 2003; Mahoning Valley - A, 2001-02). (Signed as undrafted free agent by Cleveland in 2001). |
| Ricky Dorame | 2000-01 | Nogales (Arizona/Mexico League, 2003); River City Rascals (Frontier League, 2004). |
| Cedric Robertson | 2001 | Tampa Bay DevilRays (Hudson Valley - A, 2002). (Signed as undrafted free agent by Tampa Bay in 2002). |
| Judd Songster | 2001 | Colorado Rockies (Colorado Springs Sky Sox - AAA, 2005; Tulsa Drillers - AA, 2005-07; Tri-City - A, 2001, 04; Visalia - A, 2003; Asheville - A, 2002), Lancaster Barnstormers (Atlantic League), 2008. (Drafted in 17th round of 2001 MLB Draft by Colorado). |
| Vontrez Wilson | 2001 | Atlanta Braves (Gulf Coast - R, 2002). (Drafted in 50th round of 2001 MLB Draft by Atlanta). |
| Sam Christensen | 2001-02 | Pittsburgh Pirates (Williamsport Crosscutters - A), 2002 (Drafted in 24th round of 2002 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh). |
| Brad Glassco | 2001-02 | Frontier League (Gateway, 2002; River City, 2003) (Signed as undrafted free agent by San Diego in 2002) |
| Alberto Hernandez | 2001-02 | Independent Leauges (Nogales (Arizona-Mexico League), 2003; Quebec (Northeast League), 2004). |
| Tony Wittmus | 2002, 04 | Mid-Missouri (Frontier League), 2004. |
| Don Clement | 2003-04 | Seattle Mariners (Arizona League, 2004) (Drafted in 32nd round of 2004 MLB Draft by Seattle) |
| Shawn Martinez | 2003-04 | Oakland Athletics (Vanouver - A, 2004-05; Kane County - A, 2005). (Drafted in 23rd round of 2004 MLB Draft by Oakland). |
| Danny Cummins | 2003-05 | New York Mets (St. Lucie Mets - A, 2006; Brooklyn Cyclones - A, 2005-06; Gulf Coast Mets - R, 2005; Kingsport Mets - R, 2005), Chillicothe Paints (Frontier League), 2007. (Signed as undrafted free agent by New York Mets, 2005). |
| Mario Mattivi | 2008-09 | St. George (UT) RoadRunners (Golden League - Ind.) 2009. |
| Nick Enciso | 2006 | Alexandria (LA) Aces (Continental League - Ind.) 2009. Also played on Continental League clubs in Texarkana, TX and Corpus Christi, TX. |
| Jeff Williams | 2005-06 | Gary Southshore RailCats/Grand Prairie AirHogs (Independent), 2010; New York Yankees (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees - AAA), 2009; Traverse City (MI) Beach Bums (Frontier League - Ind.) 2007-09 (Signed as undrafted free agent by Boston, 2006; Signed as undrafted free agent by New York Yankees, 2009). |
| Joey Newby | 2003-04 | Los Angeles Dodgers (Albuquerque Isotopes - AAA; Chattanooga Twins - AA), 2011; Southern Maryland (Independent), 2010; Seattle Mariners (Tacoma Tigers, AAA), 2009; Oakland Athletics (Kane County Cougars, A), 2004-07.(Signed as undrafted free agent by Oakland in 2004). |
| Tony Pechek | 2009 | Milwaukee Brewers (Arizona League Brewers - Rookie League, 2009; Helena Breweres - Rookie League, 2010; Wisconsin Timber Rattlers - A, 2011) (Signed as undrafted free agent by Milwaukee in 2009). |
CSU-P alums in the MLB Draft
June Amateur
Draft
2005: Mike Massaro, 13th round, Oakland Athletics
2004: Shawn Martinez, 23rd round, Oakland
Athletics; Don Clement, 32nd round, Seattle Mariners
2002: Sam Christensen, 24th round, Pittsburgh
Pirates
2001: Judd Songster, 17th round, Colorado
Rockies; Vontrez Wilson, 50th round, Atlanta Braves
2000: Roddy Friar, 12th round, St. Louis
Cardinals
1998: Brian Jackson, 14th round, Cleveland
Indians; Anthony Taylor, 30th round, Oakland Athletics
1996: Jeff Bloomer, 39th round, Florida
Marlins
1985: Robert Burke, 19th round, Atlanda
Braves
1983: Dan Simpson, 19th round, Texas Rangers
1981: Chris Serazio, 14th round, Texas
Rangers
1970: Dennis Jones, 23rd round, Oakland
Athletics
1968: Pat Bekeza, 20th round, San Francisco
Giants
January
Amateur Draft
1972: Mike Heftner, 2nd round, San Diego
Padres
1970: Marvin Tucker, 6th round, New York Mets
June Secondary
Draft
1971: Craig Lown, 1st round, Chicago White Sox;
Roy Peterson, 4th round, Los Angeles Dodgers
1969: Pat Bekeza, 3rd round, Minnesota Twins
1968: Dennis Jones, 3rd round, Baltimore
Orioles
