Over the last decade, few college programs have sent more players to the professional level than San Diego baseball. USD has had 61 players selected in the MLB Draft over the last 10 years, ranking the program No. 16 nationally and first among non-Power Five teams in that span. So as MLB spring training camps get underway this month, it should come as no surprise that several former USD players are putting in work in big league camps across the country as they prepare for Opening Day.
Here’s an update with the latest on all the former Toreros in MLB camps this spring.
Riley Adams, Toronto Blue Jays:
The 2017 WCC Player of the Year, Adams enjoyed an illustrious three-year career at USD (2015-2017) in which he hit .312 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, and 47 RBIs as a catcher.
The San Diego, California native was drafted in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft (99th overall pick) by the Blue Jays and has hit .265 with 21 home runs, 60 doubles, four triples, and 129 RBIs in 251 professional games so far. A member of the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster, he will compete for a spot on the big league club this spring.
Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
One of the most accomplished players of his generation, Bryant needs no introduction to baseball fans — whether that be in San Diego or around the country. His three-year USD career saw him win a wealth of both conference and national awards, including the WCC Co-Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award.
He hit .329 with 75 hits, 13 doubles, three triples, 31 home runs and 62 RBI in his final season with the Toreros (2013), setting a new USD single-season home run record while leading the nation in long balls.
Bryant was selected second overall in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, marking the highest draft pick in USD history. His professional career has included winning Minor League Player of the Year (2014), Rookie of the Year (2015), Most Valuable Player (2016), three All-Star selections (2015, 2016, 2019,) and a World Series Championship (2016).
Bryant is a career .280 hitter in his six-year MLB career so far with 142 home runs, 172 doubles, and 414 RBIs.
Kyle Holder, Cincinnati Reds
A San Diego product known for his steady, smooth play at shortstop, Holder put together a dynamic campaign in his single season at USD in 2014 after transferring from local Grossmont College. He batted .298 with three home runs, two triples, seven doubles, and 29 RBI and was named an All-WCC honorable mention that year before being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft (30th overall pick) by the New York Yankees.
Holder is a career .264 hitter in five minor league seasons, notching 17 home runs, 62 doubles, and 136 RBIs so far.
He was acquired by the Reds in a trade late last month and was added to the team’s 40-man roster.
Connor Joe, Colorado Rockies
An integral part of USD’s last WCC Championship and NCAA Regional-bound team (2013), Joe made his mark in San Diego as a hard-hitting first baseman. He batted .319 that year — an average that was second to only Bryant — while recording 74 hits, 14 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBI and notching 20 multi-hit games.
The San Diego, California native was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round (39th overall pick) in the 2014 MLB Draft. Since then, Joe has spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants organizations, and made his MLB debut on March 29, 2019 with San Francisco.
Joe signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies in November of 2020 after successfully overcoming cancer earlier last year, and was extended a non-roster invitation to Colorado’s MLB spring training camp this spring.
James Pazos, Los Angeles Dodgers
Pazos was a valuable asset for the Toreros in his two seasons in San Diego (2011-2012), making 20 appearances and five game starts with an 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched in his sophomore season, and posting a 5–1 record and a 2.14 ERA in 63 innings in his junior year.
He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 13th round (427th overall pick) of the 2012 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut on September 15, 2015 with the Yankees.
He has a career 3.96 ERA in 155 MLB games and 127.2 innings pitched with three major league teams so far. Pazos is currently a non-roster invitee in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ major league spring training camp.
Paul Sewald, Seattle Mariners
Sewald was a mainstay of the Toreros’ pitching staff in his three years in San Diego, appearing in 48 total games from 2009-2011. His final year with USD saw him make six game starts and 22 game appearances with a 3.63 ERA in 67 innings pitched, finishing with a record of 2-4, notching two saves and 49 strikeouts.
Sewald was selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round (320th overall pick) of the 2012 MLB Draft, and made his MLB debut on April 8, 2017 with the Mets.
After appearing in 125 MLB games with New York, Sewald signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners early last month, and is currently a non-roster invitee in the Mariners’ MLB spring training camp.