Millions of kids around the world dream of hearing their name called in the MLB Draft, but for UBC pitchers Vicarte Domingo and Sean Heppner, that dream became a reality this week.
Heppner and Domingo have become the 32nd and 33rd players in the UBC Baseball Program’s history to be selected in the MLB Draft.
Domingo is headed to San Diego to try and crack the Padres’ roster, while Heppner was selected in the 12th round by the Cleveland Guardians. Despite both hearing their names called to the Majors, the players say the job is not finished.
“Now the work really starts because the goal is to play in the MLB and so you’re starting off at the lowest level here, and there’s a lot of work to be done and I’m looking forward to it,” said Heppner.
“Growing up, you don’t really expect it to be you and even today, it still doesn’t feel real. It probably won’t feel like it’s real until I get down there and start getting into some pro ball. But it means the world,” added Domingo.
Both are right-handed starting pitchers with experience as relievers, and both are born and raised in Vancouver. These elite baseball prospects have built up quite the resume during their tenure at UBC with the Thunderbirds.
Domingo was named the team’s closer in his rookie season, and in his latest campaign with UBC, he racked up an ERA of 1.71.
“This place hold a special place in my heart and all the people that I’ve met and crossed paths with who may not know the impact that they’ve had on my life but have changed my life for the better has been awesome and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything,” he said.
UBC Baseball Head Coach Chris Pritchett says Domingo plays with a special kind of emotion when he’s on the mound that has evolved into a potential major league talent.
“Just to watch his growth, he’s always talent but to see him really kind of put it together at the end of the season and more from a maturity standpoint, he really learned how to relax, control his emotions, and everything just started to flow after that,” he said.
“Man, he’s just been unhittable the last two months and the Padres are getting a really good pitcher.”
Meanwhile, Heppner was considered UBC’s ace in the last season and broke the school record for most strikeouts in a single game, previously held by UBC alum and former major leaguer Jeff Francis, with 16.
When asked about his strengths as a pitcher, Heppner says he lives for big moments.
“All those playoff games, [Pritchett] really preaches that playoff baseball is the purest kind of baseball because it’s selfless, because all you’re trying to do is win, and it’s so much more fun that way,” he explained.
“He is physical and he’ll outwork everyone they’ve got there and he is a leader, terrific teammate, and he’s the guy we always gave the ball to in the big game and he wasn’t afraid of it at all,” added Pritchett.
Heppner will now head to Arizona for rookie camp at the end of the month, before playing in developmental league. Domingo, meanwhile, is slated to go to California to play Low-A ball.