Concordia pitcher Jimmy Endersby, former Orange High star, signs with Houston Astros

Jimmy Endersby fires a pitch for Concordia this past season. (Photo courtesy Concordia sports information)

Concordia University Irvine pitcher Jimmy Endersby (Orange High) and another Eagle hurler Colton Snyder agreed to sign free agent deals Sunday with Major League Baseball franchises.

Endersby agreed to terms with the Houston Astros who had targeted him over the past few weeks leading up to the 2020 MLB Draft. Snyder will also get a chance to chase his MLB dream as he joins the Texas Rangers.

Most years, the MLB Draft goes 40 rounds but due to many factors, including COVID-19 and ongoing labor negotiations, this summer’s draft went only five rounds.

“The days before the draft were a very exciting time to say the least,” said Endersby. “This is what every baseball player dreams about, to get their name called on draft day and unfortunately it didn’t go as planned. But God works wonders and three days later I had 15 plus teams calling me starting at 6 a.m.”

Endersby emerged as the ace of the CUI pitching staff during the shortened 2020 season.  He won all five games he started for the Eagles and racked up a team-best 37 strikeouts over 28.2 innings while sporting an impressive 1.88 ERA.

Endersby transferred to Concordia a year ago from Cal State Fullerton and excelled when given the opportunity to be the primary Saturday starter in the Eagles rotation. The 6-1 right-hander from Orange High School ultimately was able to choose his destination and the organization he feels is the best fit for him.

Snyder said he built a solid relationship with the Texas Rangers over the past few months and that was one of the things that attracted him to sign with their organization.

“From the beginning, I had a relationship with the Rangers ever since their area scout, Steve Flores, noticed me during our alumni game,” said Snyder. “We met for almost an hour after the game to talk about my story and my future as a ball player. We talked a lot over the next few months and I got many texts checking in on my family and I to see how we were doing and if we were in good health. I was the first guy he called at 6 a.m. on Sunday which truly showed me that they believe in me.

“There was not another team that showed that level of commitment and even though I was in touch with a few (others), I knew where I wanted to end up after all things were settled.”

Snyder excelled on the mound for the Eagles in four starts and one relief appearance this season.  He went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 16 innings.  Opponents hit just .254 off of him and the Eagles went 4-1 overall in the five games he toed the rubber.

“The Rangers seemed like a team that is going to take care of their players,” added Snyder. “I had lots of conversations with them and meeting members of their staff a week before the draft sold me on their organization. I wanted a team that was going to look out for my health and growth as a baseball player, and everything that I heard about the organization is that they do exactly that.”

The El Camino Real High School alum earned his first career win for Concordia by pitching five innings against Holy Names University. Another highlight for Snyder was a spotless performance over the course of three innings in a 12-1 win over Regis University.

“The opportunity that the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros have given Colton and Jimmy is a dream come true for these young men,” said CUI Coach Joe Turgeon. “Both organizations will be getting high character men on top of the skill set they displayed on the mound. During their time at Concordia, they represented their families, our institution and the baseball program at an elite level. From our entire coaching staff and our families, we are proud of you, we will miss you and you will always be an Eagle..”

Concordia went a combined 9-1 in the games that Endersby and Snyder pitched. The No. 23 Eagles finished 17-7 overall and were ranked in the top 25 for the first time in the school’s NCAA DII era before the COVID-19 outbreak halted competition.

—Courtesy Concordia University sports information