Esquer Taken By Reds In MLB Draft
6/7/2006
POMONA ¾ Cal Poly Pomona’s Anthony Esquer (Sr., Chino Hills, Whittier Christian HS) got the news he was hoping for Wednesday during the second day of the Major League Baseball draft.
Esquer was selected in the 24th round with the 714th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday and he got the news in unusual fashion. He was driving a truck for a construction company when he got the word.
“I didn’t have a final today so I went to work. I was driving a big truck and I got a call from a buddy and he was screaming, ‘the Reds,’” Esquer said. “He called me right when it happened and then I got calls from my mom, my dad, my grandparents, Coach Ashman. This is a dream come true. You always want to have a chance to play professional baseball.”
Esquer had a sensational senior year to complete his Cal Poly Pomona career. He earned first-team All-West Region and All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors. He hit .371, which was the highest average among all West Region catchers. He also shared the team lead in home runs with seven and led the Broncos with 42 runs batted in. Esquer also scored 34 runs and had a team-high 66 hits.
“He has a chance because he can catch and throw and he’s become a very good hitter,” Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Mike Ashman said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see him playing for a long time in professional baseball.”
Esquer showed great improvement throughout his Cal Poly Pomona career. He hit .211 as a freshman while appearing in 22 games. As a sophomore, he appeared in 34 games, all starts, and hit .290 with one home run and 15 RBI. As a junior, he appeared in 48 games and started 45 times and hit .340 with two home runs and 25 RBI.
He had career highs in every statistical category as a senior.