LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.’s Jesus Campos was one of six California Collegiate Athletic Association players chosen on Day 2 of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.
Campos was selected in the 24th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The senior shortstop, who earned honorable mention All-CCAA honors in 2010, was a two-year starter for Cal State L.A. and helped the Golden Eagles to 50 wins over the past two seasons.
Campos said he was in the library on the Cal State L.A. campus when he got the news that he’d been drafted.
“I was studying for a final when I got a text from my coach telling me congratulations. I asked him what he was talking about and he told me I’d been drafted by the Angels. Then I got a call from the Angels’ scout and I started screaming and running up and down the third floor of the library,” Campos said. “I got some weird looks and my teammate, Max Moya, was with me, laughing. He was very happy for me.”
It was a special day for Campos, who came to Cal State L.A. after two seasons at East Los Angeles Junior College. He was previously a team Most Valuable Player at Roosevelt High School.
“The reason I was so overwhelmed was because this was my dad’s dream and he passed away last year. This was a big thing for me and my family,” Campos said. “I was hoping it would be the Angels. They’ve been one of my favorite teams.”
Campos was widely regarded as one of the top defensive shortstops in the NCAA Division II West Region while at Cal State L.A. He made only eight errors in 218 total chances in 2010. He also hit .272 with two home runs, 31 runs scored and 24 RBI.
“It’s a well-deserved opportunity for Jesus and I know his family is very proud of what he’s accomplished,” Cal State L.A. head coach Vince Beringhele said. “Hopefully, he can continue and move his way up the organizational ladder.”
Campos played in 90 games during his two-year Cal State L.A. career and contributed 426 outs while showing great range and a tremendous arm from the shortstop position. He also scored 68 runs while hitting .282 overall in 326 at bats.
Campos, who is a criminal justice major at Cal State L.A., was the fifth of six players from the CCAA selected on Tuesday.
Cal State L.A. has now had players drafted in seven straight years. Travis Tartamella was drafted in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals and Isaac Morales was selected in the 34th round by the Florida Marlins in 2009. Henry Contreras was a 24th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2008 and Dustin Birosak and Darrick Hale were signed as free agents. Kurt Crowell was drafted in the 38th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, Adam Klein was selected in the 48th round by the Oakland A’s in 2007 and Jeff Carroll signed with Tampa Bay in 2007. Derrick Loop was selected in the 23rd round by the Cleveland Indians in 2006 and Brandon Higelin was taken in the 28th round by the San Diego Padres in 2005.
Cal State L.A.’s recent string started in 2004 when Das Jesson was drafted in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Miller was taken in the 25th round by St. Louis and Rafael Arroyo was selected in the 26th round by the New York Mets.
The final day of the draft – with rounds 31-50 – will take place on Wednesday.