May 18, 2012

Long Beach, Calif. - Pitcher Nick Vincent has been called up by the San Diego Padres, becoming the 13th former Long Beach State player in the major leagues in 2012 and the 42nd in school history. Vincent's promotion also puts the Dirtbags back on top for the most major leaguers from any college, an honor the team has held in both 2010 and 2011.

Last season in AA San Antonio, Vincent went 8-2 with a 2.27 ERA, striking out 89 batters in 66 appearances out of the bullpen, earning a promotion onto the Padres' 40-man roster.

Vincent spent one season with the Dirtbags as a junior college transfer from Palomar CC, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.75 ERA over 30.2 innings of work during the 2008 season, helping lead the Dirtbags to a Big West championship as well as earning a regional host that season.

Drafted in the 18th round following that season, Vincent sets another mark as the LBSU player selected deepest into the draft to reach the major leagues, passing Chris DeMaria who was picked in the 17th round. Pitcher Bob Cramer reached the major leagues in 2010 after signing as an undrafted free agent following his senior year in 2001.

The 2008 class now has four current major leaguers in Vincent, Vance Worley, Danny Espinosa, and Bryan Shaw. That ties a record for Long Beach State with the class of 2004, which saw the top four picks of that season reach the major leagues. The 2008 team had a school-record 11 players selected in the first 20 rounds.

Long Beach State now has 13 major leaguers in 2012, one more than Arizona State, next with 12 this season. The Dirtbags had 16 players in both 2010 and 2011.