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 Ben Greenberg at ben.greenberg@csupueblo.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: Â Did Major League Hall of Famer Goose Gossage play at CSU-Pueblo?
A: Not officially. Â The question arises since Gossage's Profile on thebaseballcube.com lists his college as CSU-Pueblo. Â 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. Â He gave it the "old college try" as it were, enrolling at the University for one quarter before choosing to focus on baseball. Â But he never took the field representing the University. Â
He did, however, appear in the University's 1970 yearbook. Â
Current Pro Players
| NAME |
YEARS AT CSUP |
ORGANIZATION (High Level) |
| Taylor Snyder |
2015-16 |
Lancaster Jet Hawks (California League- High A) 2019-pres., Asheville Touirists (South Atlantic League - A) 2017-18, Grand Junction Rockies,(Pioneer League, Rookie) 2016. |
| Beau Brieske |
2018-19 |
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Florida State League - Class A Advanced) 2019-pres., GCL Tigers East (Gulf Coast League, Rookie) 2019- 2019 |
Former Pro Players
2016-18
| 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 |
2001-02Â |
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). |
| Mike Massaro |
2003-05 |
Gary (IN)Â Southshore RailCats (Northern League - Ind.), 2009-2013.; Oakland Athletics (Sacramento RiverCats, AAA), 2005-08 (Drafted in 13th round of 2005 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). |
| Ryan Priddy |
2004-05 |
San Rafael Pacifics (CA) (Pacific Association) 2014-14, Sioux City (IA) Explorers (American Association), 2011-2012., Tucson (AZ) Toros (Golden League - Ind.), 2009-10; St. Paul Saints (Independent), 2007-08; Lincoln (Ind.), 2006; Pensacola (Ind.), 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). |
| Eric Bloom |
2009-10 |
Edinburg Roadrunners (United Baseball League), 2012 ; Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier League), 2011. Â |
| Cole Stephens |
2010-11 |
Florence Freedom (Frontier League): 2015, Amarillo Sox 2014, Gary Southshore RailCats 2014, Fort Worth Cats, 2013, Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (North American League), 2012-Pres., Somerton Stingers (Arizona Winter League), 2012. Â |
| Kyle Lazcano |
2015-17 |
Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League - Ind.) 2018- 18 |
| Zach Hoffman |
2017-18Â |
Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League - Ind.) 2018- 18 |
| Ambrose Romero |
2017-18 |
Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League - Ind.) 2018- 18 |
CSU-P alums in the MLB Draft
June Amateur Draft
2019: Beau Brieske, 27th round, Detroit Tigers (5th pick, 802nd overall)
2016: Taylor Snyder, 13th Round, Colorado Rockies (4th pick, 380th overall)
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
