MONROE, La. – Former ULM baseball players
Mason Holt and
Lucas Wepf signed free agent contracts with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, following last week's Major League Baseball Draft.
Holt, an outfielder from Coppell, Texas, and Wepf, a right-handed pitcher from Georgetown, Ontario, each spent the last three seasons at ULM.
"I'm really excited for Mason and Lucas and the opportunity they have to continue their careers in this great game," ULM head coach
Michael Federico said. "Both have graduated and now get the opportunity to be professional baseball players. The chase to get to the big leagues starts now. They are both in great organizations and I know they both are excited. It's great to see kids achieve their goals."
Holt played in and started all 125 possible games in his ULM career. He was a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and Second-Team ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region pick following the best season of his Warhawk career in 2022. He led ULM in eight offensive categories, including batting average (.317), slugging percentage (.621), runs scored (50), hits (72), doubles (15), triples (3), home runs (16) and total bases (141). He tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in home runs, finished fifth in total bases and ninth in runs scored, triples and slugging percentage.
"I'm just really excited to be able to join a world class organization like the Angels," Holt said. "I came across an opportunity and took it."
Holt was the fourth ULM player to hit 15 or more home runs while stealing 10 or more bases in a single season after swiping 14 bases. It was the fifth such occurrence in program history. Corey Taylor accomplished the feat twice, in 1996 (15 home runs, 22 stolen bases) and 1998 (19 home runs, 29 stolen bases). Ben Soignier joined the club in 2008 (16 home runs, 13 stolen bases) and Jon Prevost was the last player to reach the marks in 2009 (15 home runs, 20 stolen bases). Holt was one of four players in the SBC to have 10 or more home runs and 10 or more stolen bases this season.
"My time at ULM prepared me because of the countless hours of hard work and dedication towards this goal," Holt said. "I couldn't have done it without the support from everyone along the way."
Wepf appeared in 39 games in his Warhawk career and made his only two career starts as a senior in 2022. He threw 72 total innings in his career with a 4.88 ERA with 74 strikeouts to 39 walks.
"My family and I are super excited," Wepf said. "It is the best feeling in the world to get a call from such a prestigious franchise. I got a call right after the draft ended and accepted an opportunity from the Dodgers."
Wepf closed his career in 2022 with 20 appearances, firing 36 innings with a 6.00 ERA, allowing 30 runs, 24 earned, on 41 hits with 36 strikeouts to 25 walks. He earned two wins and a save on the season.
Wepf's best season in Monroe came as a second-year junior in 2021, where he was one of the top bullpen options for ULM. He made 17 appearances, all out of the pen, firing 34 1/3 innings with a team-best 2.36 ERA, allowing 12 runs, nine earned, on 22 hits with 36 strikeouts and 12 walks. He picked up two wins and three saves.
"ULM has a great facility and staff that has helped me prepare for the next level," Wepf said. "I couldn't have done this without the help from everyone along the way."
Holt and Wepf become the sixth and seventh active former Warhawks in minor league baseball, joining
Chad Bell (Class AA Somerset Patriots, New York Yankees),
Keegan Curtis (Class AA Tulsa Drillers, Los Angeles Dodgers),
Trey Jeans (Class AA Birmingham Barons, Chicago White Sox),
Justin King (Class High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Milwaukee Brewers) and Trent Tingelstad (Class High-A Everett AquaSox, Seattle Mariners).
