Here is a newsmaker. Jacob Mead has become the first University of St. Thomas-Houston Celt in school history to sign with a Major League Baseball club right out of college. The San Diego Padres signed the left-hander from Montgomery, Texas, on July 11 as an undrafted free agent.

“We are so excited for Jake to be able to live out his dream of playing professional baseball,” Head Baseball Coach Torry Peterson said. “The San Diego Padres are getting a relentless worker and a great human being with great character and work ethic. He will be greatly missed, but we are all in Jake’s corner and will be rooting for him every step of the way.”

Mead transferred to the Celts this season as a pitcher and appeared in 15 games with one start. In those games, he helped lead the Celts to eight wins in 16 innings of action. He also recorded 25 strikeouts and notched two saves. In his first seven appearances, Mead was nearly untouchable, as opponents could not score a run against him. Then in his one start against ASC powerhouse Mary Hardin Baylor, Mead allowed just one hit and struck out eight batters over five innings of work.

“At the University of St. Thomas, I was given the opportunity to have great coaching, mentorship, guidance, leadership, motivation, and most of all a family,” Mead exclaimed. “We had a great season, and all hard work and dedication will always pay off, but being at the University of St. Thomas was one of the best decisions I made for myself, my family, my education, and my baseball career.”

His season was highlighted by the Celts’ marquee victory over first-place Trinity University in the last game of the season. Mead came in the ninth inning to close the game and struck out the side.

“My life changed in that last outing against Trinity University,” Jacob affirmed. “For the first time in four seasons, this program beat the Tigers and made a statement at the DIII level. There was a lot of history made that day, and without my teammates, friends, and family, none of it would’ve been possible. I went out there, hit 95.4 mph, and my life changed forever. One moment is all it takes to make the most of it.”

Celt baseball crossed the 20-win mark with its win against Trinity University.