June 18, 2004
(San Diego, CA) - University of San Diego shortstop Jose Ortega signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians Thursday. The two-year letterwinner from Riverside, California was honored as a First Team All-West Coast Conference player as a senior, hitting .364 with 10 doubles and 31 RBI. Ortega becomes the sixth Torero to ink a contract with a Major League team following the 2004 season, a new school record.
Other San Diego players signing pro deals this June...
Topping the list of San Diego players selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was junior third baseman Freddy Sandoval (Tijuana, Mexico; Marian Catholic HS). Sandoval was taken in the eighth round Monday, 233rd overall, by Anaheim. Sandoval (6'1", 200 lbs) drove in a league-high 59 RBI and hit nine homeruns this past season for USD.
The Chicago White Sox took Josh Hansen (Irvine, CA; Mater Dei HS) with their 28th pick of the draft. Hansen twice earned All-West Coast Conference honors during his two-year stay at USD, driving in a total of 92 runs and hitting 15 homers. Hansen (6'0", 215 lbs) posted a .369 batting average in 2004, hitting in the heart of the USD order.
Just two picks separated Hansen and teammate Aaron Wilson (Lakeside, CA; Santana HS), who was taken by Philadelphia 722nd overall. Wilson established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in USD history, totaling 29 wins in 61 starts. Wilson (6'3", 190 lbs) won some huge games for USD, hurling a complete game six-hitter allowing San Diego to clinch the 2003 WCC Championship Series and stifling Arizona in NCAA Regional play. Wilson finished his senior season ranked 14th in the nation with 11 wins.
Fresh off a senior season in which he went 7-1 with a 3.69 ERA, right-handed starter Kyle Collins (San Jose, CA; San Jose CC) heard his name called by the Cleveland Indians in the 32nd round. After an All-American junior college career, Collins (6'1", 165 lbs) was 16-6 with a 3.69 ERA in two seasons at USD.
For the second time in two years Tom Caple (San Diego, CA; Rancho Bernardo HS) was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Caple (6'0", 185) became the first player in San Diego school history to be named a First Team All-WCC player three times. Caple played three full seasons as a Torero, hitting .345 as a senior in 2004, drawing 55 walks and scoring 54 runs.
