Alex Vesia

Alex Vesia
Vesia with the Dodgers in 2023
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 51
Pitcher
Born: (1996-04-11) April 11, 1996 (age 27)
Alpine, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 25, 2020, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record10–7
Earned run average3.40
Strikeouts202
Teams

Alexander Victor Vesia (born April 11, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2020.

Early life

Vesia was born in Alpine, California, to Bob and Cindy.[1][2] He attended Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley, California, where he played baseball. In 2014, his senior year, he earned All-East County honors.[3] Undrafted in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at California State University, East Bay, where he played college baseball.

College career

In 2015, Vesia's freshman season at Cal State East Bay, he started 12 games in which he went 5–4 with a 2.18 ERA over 74+1⁄3 innings, earning California Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year honors.[4] As a sophomore in 2016, he made 15 starts, going 7–5 with a 3.30 ERA, striking out 64 batters in 95+1⁄3 innings, earning All-CCAA Second Team honors.[5] That summer, he played in the Northwoods League for the Mankato MoonDogs.[6][7] In 2017, Vesia's junior year, he appeared in 14 games (nine starts), pitching to a 4–6 record with a 4.82 ERA.[8] Following the season, he played in the Alaska Baseball League for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks.[9] As a senior at Cal State East Bay in 2018, he pitched in 14 games (making seven starts) while going 8–2 with a 1.94 ERA and was named to the All-CCAA First Team.[10] After his senior season, he was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 17th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[11][12][13]

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Vesia in 2020

Vesia signed with Miami, making his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Marlins before earning a promotion to the Batavia Muckdogs.[14] Over 33+1⁄3 relief innings pitched with the two clubs, he went 4–0 with a 1.35 ERA and 38 strikeouts. In 2018, Vesia began the year with the Clinton LumberKings before earning a promotion to the Jupiter Hammerheads in June and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in August.[15][16] Over 66+2⁄3 relief innings pitched between the three clubs, he went 7–2 with a 1.76 ERA and 100 strikeouts. He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters following the season and was named a Fall League All-Star.[17][18][19]

On July 22, 2020, it was announced that Vesia had made Miami's 2020 Opening Day roster.[20] He made his MLB debut on July 25 against the Philadelphia Phillies.[21] He was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 2 and missed the rest of the season.[22] He pitched a total of 4+1⁄3 innings for the Marlins in 2020 in which he gave up nine earned runs and seven walks while striking out five.[23]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On February 12, 2021, the Marlins traded Vesia and Kyle Hurt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Dylan Floro.[24]

On July 31, 2021, Vesia recorded his first career MLB win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[25] On September 21, 2021, Vesia recorded his first MLB save against the Colorado Rockies.[26] He spent a majority of the 2021 season in the major leagues with the Dodgers with whom he pitched a total of forty innings over 41 games with a 3-1 record, a 3.86 ERA, and 54 strikeouts during the season.[27] Vesia pitched in two games of the 2021 NLDS and five of the six games of the 2021 NLCS, allowing only one run on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in 4+1⁄3 innings.[27] He pitched a total of nine innings with the Oklahoma City Dodgers when not with Los Angeles.[28]

In 2022, Vesia pitched in 63 games, for a 5–0 record and 2.15 ERA.[27] He followed that up in 2023, with a 2–5 record and 4.35 ERA in 56 games.[27] After the season, he agreed to a $1 million contract for 2024 in salary arbitration.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Alex Vesia #51". mlb.com. August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Krasovic, Tom (August 23, 2021). "Dodgers rookie Alex Vesia looking forward to personal homestand vs. Padres". LA Times. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "EAST COUNTY SPORTS - Real Sports... Real Time". www.eastcountysports.com.
  4. ^ "2015 All-CCAA Baseball Team Announced". goccaa.org.
  5. ^ "2016 All-CCAA Baseball Team Announced". goccaa.org.
  6. ^ "Big Crowds – Big Wins in MoonDogs Homestand | Mankato Times - Mankato News Online".
  7. ^ "MoonDogs Add Pitching from Both Sides". Mankato MoonDogs. March 31, 2016.
  8. ^ "ECM PADRES REPORT: MLB DRAFT EDITION - DAY THREE". East County Magazine.
  9. ^ "Golpanners Series With San Diego Kicks Off With Double-Header Tuesday Night". June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019.
  10. ^ "Four Pioneers Pick up All-CCAA Baseball Honors". Cal State East Bay University Athletics.
  11. ^ "Miami Marlins Select Alex Vesia in 17th Round of MLB Draft". Cal State East Bay University Athletics.
  12. ^ DeFranks, Matthew. "After targeting athletes in draft, Marlins now begin development process". sun-sentinel.com.
  13. ^ Fernandez, Andre (June 7, 2018). "Miami Marlins load up on pitching, athletic players in first draft under Derek Jeter". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on June 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Minor league report: Local players among lists of top prospects". San Diego Union-Tribune. August 7, 2018.
  15. ^ Sussman, Ely (June 12, 2019). "A-Ball with Erik Oas Episode 11: Strikeout artist Alex Vesia". MSN Sports. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019.
  16. ^ Freeman, Clayton. "Alex Vesia delivers in extras as Jumbo Shrimp survive heat, M-Braves". The Florida Times-Union.
  17. ^ "Arizona Fall League rosters revealed". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "Victor Victor Mesa, Neidert among Marlins in Arizona Fall League | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Under-the-radar Marlins prospect continuing 2019 dominance". Fish Stripes. October 11, 2019.
  20. ^ Jackson, Miriam (July 23, 2020). "Alex Vesia, Sterling Sharp Make Marlins' Roster".
  21. ^ "Marlins' Alex Vesia: Takes loss in MLB debut". CBSSports.com.
  22. ^ "Marlins' Alex Vesia: Placed on 10-day injured list". CBSSports.com.
  23. ^ "Miami Marlins: Looking Back at the Alex Vesia Trade". October 17, 2021.
  24. ^ "Miami Marlins acquire RHP Dylan Floro from Los Angeles Dodgers". mlb.com. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  25. ^ "Dodgers' four-run seventh reclaims lead, secures win over Diamondbacks". August 2021.
  26. ^ "Pujols hit in 10th, Dodgers beat Rox, stay close in NL West". Associated Press. September 22, 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d "Alex Vesia Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  28. ^ "Alex Vesia has 10 straight strikeouts for Triple-A Oklahoma City". June 30, 2021.
  29. ^ Stephen, Eric (January 11, 2024). "Dodgers sign 10 players to avoid salary arbitration". SB Nation. Retrieved January 12, 2024.

External links