ROBERT GASSER University of Houston 2020-21, Delta College 2019:
Starting pitcher Robert Gasser was selected with the 71st overall pick by the San Diego Padres on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball Draft. He is coming off a dominant season as the University of Houston's Friday night starter. The El Dorado Hills, California, native and First-Team All-American Athletic Conference honoree posted a 2.63 ERA and fanned 105 batters in 85.2 innings. The two-time AAC Pitcher of the Week did not allow an earned run in five starts and permitted two-or-fewer earned runs in 10 of 14 starts. Gasser became the first Houston pitcher since 2015 to fan 10-plus batters in consecutive road starts, coming at Texas State and at Oklahoma.
Robert starred at Delta College in 2019 where he was named:
- California Community College Pitcher of the Year and the
- California Community College Make Athlete of the Year.
- 1st Team All American
- Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year
Gasser was a perfect 14-0 with the Mustangs and led the state in strikeouts with 139 strikeouts.
DILLON TATUM: UC Irvine 2021, Delta College 2019-20.
The power-hitting UC Irvine catcher and designated hitter was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round. Tatum burst onto the scene after transferring from San Joaquin Delta JC in his first season in 2021 to lead the 'Eaters in slugging at .684 and set a new single-season home run mark with 15 this year. Tatum also finished up with a .278 average, 37 hits, 37 runs, and 36 RBIs in 40 games played. He also held his own behind the plate throwing out seven would-be base stealers on the year including two games catching two stealing.
Tatum powered a pair of two-HR games including one at Cal Poly to help him toward Big West Field Player of the Week honors in which he homered four times. A week later, he homered twice including a walk-off blast in the ninth inning to defeat Oregon State.
Tatum starred at Delta College in 2019 and 2020
- Hit .316 in 60 games for Delta College with 66 hits, 19 doubles, 4 HR, 55 RBI, 46 runs, and four stolen bases
- Hit .290 with 44 hits and 4 HR as a freshman
- Had 23 RBI while hitting .366 in 21 games before the 2020 season was shut down
BEN MILLER: Delta College 2019-21. Committed to Cal State Fullerton
Miller signed a free agent contract with the Padres after impressive pre-draft workout with the club. Ben will forego a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton to pursue his dream of pitching professionally. Miller was victim of the COVID Pandemic. He was off to a great start in the 2020 season before it was shut down from the COVID pandemic. Through his first ten appearances he had 1.25 ERA and averaged almost nine strikeouts a game while compiling a 3-1 record with a save. Ben was all set for a big 2021 season, but the college chose to opt out of competition for the year leading to a second consecutive lost season.
Delta Baseball is extremely proud of the legacy players like these three have created and look forward to seeing them play professionally. Congratulations and Good Luck Robert, Dillon and Ben!