TORONTO, Canada -- Alabama State RHP Angel Alicea was selected in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.Alicea (6-1, 200; Jr., Santa Isabel, PR) played one season for the Hornets. After beginning the season as the starting shortstop, he focused on pitching full time in early March. He posted a 3-0 record with a 1.47 ERA with two saves in 17 appearances with three starts.
Alicea becomes the sixth Hornet baseball player drafted in the past three seasons and the eighth since 2014 to sign a professional contract.
Alicea, the 612th overall selection, recorded two of the biggest wins of the season in his first two career starts. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing six hits and walking one while striking out seven in a 3-0 win at Tennessee on April 25.
In the SWAC Championship game, Alicea allowed only four hits and two runs in six innings, striking out a career-high nine in a 7-5 win over Texas Southern on May 22, as the Hornets won their first ever league championship, posting their school record 38th win.
Alicea earned a no-decision in the Hornets' NCAA Tournament game against South Alabama, allowing only three runs and striking out five in seven innings.
In 2014, Alabama State baseball had four players sign professional baseball contracts, with three players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, the most in one draft in school history. SS Emmanuel Marrero (7th round, Philadelphia) became the highest drafted baseball player ever at ASU. OF Richard Amion (19th round, San Francisco) and C Richard Gonzalez (29th round, Houston) were also selected in the draft, while P/1B Dexter Price signed a free agent contract with Arizona.
In 2015, relief pitchers Armando Ruiz (29th round, Oakland) and Jorge Pantoja (30th round, Washington) were drafted, while a third pitcher, Michael Estevez (FA, Toronto) signed a contract.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
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