Mission Bay has produced dozens of quality baseball players who have been drafted into the pro ranks. Six ambitious athletes were employed in the minor leagues this season, which ended Sept 8.
The veteran ball players earning their field time include Kevin Reese, Matt Bush, Brock Ungricht, Matt Hammons, Henry Sanchez and Mario Delgado.
Reese helped lead the Buccaneers to the 1995 and 1996 CIF championships. He was undefeated in his pitching career for the Bucs with a 21-0 record.
While Reese was an excellent pitcher, he was a great hitter and all-around athlete. He accepted a baseball scholarship to USD, where he played the outfield, and he helped build the successful Torero program that it is today.
After college, Reese was drafted by the Yankees, who have moved him up during the last several years to their top AAA club in Scranton, Pa.
“On any other club, Kevin would be playing in the majors,” said Reese’s former Mission Bay coach Dennis Pugh. “But with the Yankees, their farm system rarely produces the starters you see in New York. His best chance will be if they trade him ” he could contribute for lots of other teams.”
During the spring of 2007, Bush was converted back to a pitcher by the Padres management. While Bush was an All-American and All-CIF shortstop in 2004, he led the Bucs to their CIF championship from the mound.
As a good-hitting athlete, converting him back to a pitcher made some sense for a National League club. But Bush soon threw his arm out and has been sidelined with an elbow injury.
“Matt had the ‘Tommy John’ surgery on his elbow,” Pugh said. “He will be out for a year ” until late summer next year. It’s major reconstruction of the elbow tendons. He has just started physical therapy.”
Bush was with the Class A Fort Wayne Wizards, but he will likely be working out in Peoria, Ariz., in the spring before he will be reassigned to a club, according to Pugh.
Ungricht played catcher and first base for SDSU after graduating from Mission Bay. But he bolted for a paying job with a bat this season.
Switching off with another catcher, Ungricht hit .300 in 44 games this summer for the Chino Outlaws.
“Brock is in an independent league, but he’s doing well ” he had a good year. He just loves to play.”
Ungricht holds the school record with a four-year varsity career batting average of .400.
Hammons was one of the hardest throwing pitchers the Bucs produced. At 6-foot 3-inches, he was an intimidating sight to high school players while he helped lead the Bucs to the 1995 CIF and State championship.
The right-hander is now throwing for the Acereros del Norte AAA team in the Mexican League at Monclova, Mexico, between Monterey, Mexico and Laredo, Texas.
Hammons pitched 76 innings this summer for a 9-5 record.
“They are pitching the heck out of him,” Pugh said. “He is at the highest minor league level. He’s getting a good salary ” those guys get six figures. But age-wise he’s getting up there. I hope he makes it on some club, but he is certainly having more fun than working in an office.”
Sanchez set batting records for the Bucs, including 35 career home runs. The big power-hitter injured his wrist this season playing for the Elizabethton, Tenn., Twins in the Rookie Appalachian League.
“He had another operation on his hand ” they did a lot to it,” Pugh said. “He has some rehab to get through, but he’ll be back. He’s a strong kid and loves to hit.”
Delgado was part of the ’95-’96 Bucs who won back-to-back CIF and State championships. In 1996 he pitched for an 11-0 record and in 1997 hit 11 home runs.
Delgado is still slugging the ball while playing first base. After success at Oklahoma City University, he is now with the Kansas City T-Bones in an independent Midwest league.
“Mario had a real good year ” he hit .340 for them,” Pugh said. “He was always a solid hitter and a real nice kid. Like most of them, I’m sure he’ll play as long as he can. Minor-league ball can wear on ya, but it’s better than a day job.”
The one player who has had a career in the majors from Mission Bay was class of 1979’s Joel Skinner. While he was drafted in the 36th round by the Pirates out of high school, he went on to spent nine years in the majors at catcher, finishing up with the Cleveland Indians.
Skinner has worked his way up through the Indians coaching ranks to a top spot as third base coach at The Jake. This weekend, Cleveland will be hosting Oakland, and a glimpse of Skinner may appear during the game on cable TV.
After 29 years at Mission Bay, Pugh is now looking forward to coaching his second year of the new baseball program at CSU San Marcos.