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Vega Drafted by Cubs, Dirden Earns Honors

Southeast Athletics
Carlos Vega

Senior right-handed pitcher Carlos Vega was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 21st round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month. Vega is the first Redhawk to be drafted by the Cubs. 

Vega went 8-3 and led SEMO with a 2.45 ERA this season. He appeared in 20 games and made nine starts. The Silver City, New Mexico native began the 2018 campaign as a closer, but moved to the starting rotation in time for Ohio Valley Conference play. He pitched 73.1 innings with 85 strikeouts and held opponents to a .222 batting average.

After the draft, Vega said in an interview with the Southeast Missourian that he was glad to have the opportunity to play at SEMO and end his college career as a Redhawk, and he said he would always be a Redhawk at heart.

A total of 29 SEMO baseball players have been drafted by 13 Major League Baseball organizations since 1966.

The last Redhawks to be drafted were Joey Lucchesi and Branden Bogetto in 2016.

Meanwhile, Southeast Missouri junior Justin Dirden was named to the 2018 NCAA Division I South All-Region Second-Team by ABCA and Rawlings. Dirden was also was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division I All-American Second-Team.

A native of O'Fallon, Missouri, Dirden finished his first year at SEMO with a .340 batting percentage and .989 fielding percentage. He had 68 RBI, 72 hits and led the team in home runs (16), walks (30) and slugging percentage (.665). Dirden ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference in slugging percentage, sixth in RBI, eighth in home runs and eighth in doubles (19).

Follow Redhawk Athletics on Twitter @GoSoutheast.

Nate Saverino serves as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs.
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