Alex Vesia Utilizing Focus, Simplicity In Quick Rise To Stardom

[caption id=attachment_1587" align="alignleft" width="1140] Alex Vesia (Photo by Jordan McPherson/Miami Herald)[/caption]

For Alexander Victor Vesia, baseball wasn’t always a sure thing. His thing could’ve been literally anything.

That summer, Vesia broke into pitching after school for Steele Canyon High’s JV squad. Quickly, Vesia fell in love. A summer later, he was determined to pitch for his school’s A squad.

For the first time, but certainly not the last, Vesia’s dedication paid off, serving as a fitting berth and a perfect precursor to his professional career.

Four years later, Vesia had both: a degree and, via a 313.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 249/106 K/BB stat line at Cal State East Bay, a future in baseball. The program record holder in strikeouts, wins and innings pitched, Vesia settled on his ultimate passion and entered the 2018 MLB Draft. Thanks to advice imparted on him by his collegiate coach, Vesia knew he wasn’t going to be highly selected, but that he shouldn’t let that decide his future.

After being signed in the 17th round and breaking into pro ball with a 1.35 ERA via a 1.14 WHIP and 38/7 K/BB for two affiliates in 2018, the exclusive reliever jumped from A to A+ to AA last season, posting a collective 1.76 ERA by way of a 0.94 WHIP and 100/19 K/BB in 66.2 IP. At seasons end, Vesia was invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League. Partaking in nine contests and 10.1 IP very close to his hometown in the San Diego suburbs, Vesia didn’t allow an earned run and struck out 16 while walking only two.

The Marlins took notice of the Vesia’s ability to succeed at multiple levels and against top prospects by inviting him to spring training. Through 6 IP, he hadn’t given up a charged tally. To date, Vesia hasn’t let up an earned run since July 13th, 2019, a streak spanning a total of 35 innings. But don’t tell him about it. As a matter of fact, leave numbers completely out of your conversation because Alex isn’t interested. That disinterest doesn’t stem from any sort of superstition or fear of recourse. Instead, Vesia has always viewed his stats as a distraction and a hindrance against keeping the game as streamlined as possible, the strategy that has always served him well.

No matter what his personal stats looked like the day week or month before, Vesia takes the mound every time with the most uncompounded plan of attack, faith in his stuff and his focus one and only one number: the one in his opponent’s runs column.

From the moment he began garnering professional interest, Vesia made all of those who came out to watch him a solemn promise:

Vesia hasn’t ran with the opportunity the Marlins have given him — he’s absolutely flown with it, mowing through the competition wherever he’s pitched. Last season, the fastball/change up/slider artist began the season in Clinton. Three months later, he was pitching in A+. Eighteen innings on the mound later, he got the call to AA Jacksonville. According to Vesia, that’s when the reality of his accomplishments hit and things got put into perspective.

On top of making the jump to AA fluidly  holding down a perfect ERA in nine appearances, Vesia provided the Jumbo Shrimp with a walk-off win in his first career plate appearance.

Despite having his offseason shortened twice, Vesia met each of those assignments, Arizona and big league camp, with the same overtly-tenacious attitude and the same message to himself that he’s carried with him his entire career. He would not have had any part of the past twelve months any other way.

The Marlins clearly love what Vesia does, as well. All the way through the suspension of spring training Vesia, who has just barely 100 innings of pro ball under his belt, was still battling for a spot in the Marlins’ bullpen. While the club would have to make a few tough decisions and create room on the 40-man roster in order to get the non-roster invitee into that spot, it is apparently a task Miami is pondering performing. Even if Vesia does begin the year in the minors, barring injury, it’s hard to imagine he will be there long.

On the precipice of realizing his big league dream, the newly-turned 24-year-old is rightfully impassioned — impassioned but as confident and as focused as ever.

If his history has taught us anything, no matter how soon that challenge approaches Vesia, he will stare it down with an unyielding gaze, attack it and put it down.

Get ready, baseball. The Bulldog cometh.

Interested in learning more about the Miami Marlins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!