Former Matadors Making their Marks in Pro Baseball

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Walking off the baseball field for the final time in a student-athlete's collegiate career comes with a variety of emotions. Not only do they have to face the prospect that a successful four-year college career is over, but they must also come to terms that they must now take the next step. While many former Matadors have transitioned successfully to careers outside of baseball, many former CSUN Baseball student-athletes have selected professional baseball as their next step.

CSUN Baseball has produced a long line of major league players and draftees over the years, and for six former Matadors, they are doing their best to one day earn their way onto the field for an MLB team. Working their way up through minor league baseball, the group is playing for teams across the United States hoping to make that jump into the big leagues.

"I'm not surprised by the success Matadors have in pro ball," said head coach Greg Moore. "This school, with its grit and grace, rubs off on those who leave. I'm proud of their work and the balance they keep. Understanding it's about the work and not the stats is why they'll be successful in pro baseball and beyond. Stats are fickle. I hear impressive things from their scouts and people in player development. That's where I get the joy in following their growth."

Branden Berry, CSUN class of 2016, Miami Marlins - Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers

A standout first baseman with the Matadors, Branden Berry transferred to CSUN for his senior campaign in 2016. Making his presence known quickly, Berry led the Big West Conference with nine home runs to go along with a .294 batting average, a .403 on-base percentage, a .508 slugging percentage, 44 RBI, 31 runs, 22 walks and 13 doubles. He helped lead the Matadors to 33 victories last season and also capped off the year with a Big West Conference Honorable Mention.

Originally from San Diego, CA, Berry was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Miami Marlins. After inking a pro contract, Berry was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Marlins where he hit .313 with two home runs, five doubles, 11 runs and 19 RBI. Last July, Berry was moved to the Short-Season Class-A affiliate, the Batavia Muckdogs. With Batavia, he belted two home runs and posted four doubles, six RBI, seven runs and a .277 batting average.

Last month, Berry received an opportunity to suit up with the Miami Marlins for a pair of MLB Spring Training games. Coming into each game as a defensive replacement at first base, Berry had three plate appearances with the Marlins and he drew a walk as well as scored a run. Assigned to the Greensboro Grasshoppers in April, the Single-A affiliate of the Marlins, Berry has already played in seven games and picked up a home run with two RBI, four runs and five hits.

Kenny Rosenberg, CSUN class of 2016, Tampa Bay Rays - Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods

A two-year letterman with the Matadors, left-handed pitcher Kenny Rosenberg (Mill Valley, CA) had a breakout final season with the Matadors in 2016. After making 15 appearances out of the bullpen in 2014 and redshirting in 2015 due to an injury, Rosenberg returned to the mound last season and became one of the premiere pitchers in the Big West Conference. Rosenberg went 6-1 with a 3.21 ERA and a conference-best 118 strikeouts. His strikeout total for the season was the most by a CSUN pitcher in 14 seasons.

After Rosenberg was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of MLB First-Year Player Draft a year ago, he has made stops with the Tampa Bay's rookie level teams the Princeton Rays and the Gulf Coast League Rays. With GCL, Rosenberg posted a 1.31 ERA, 27 strikeouts and two saves in 20.2 innings of work. Earlier this month, Rosenberg was assigned to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Class-A affiliate of the Rays. Continuing to rack up the strikeouts, Rosenberg has already tallied 10 in 5.1 innings of work with the Hot Rods. Thus far in his professional baseball career, Rosenberg has pitched a total of 33.2 innings and posted an impressive 3.21 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 14 games.

Jerry Keel, CSUN class of 2015, San Diego Padres - Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps

A southpaw from Palmdale, CA, and the all-time school leader in innings pitched, Jerry Keel (2012-15) enjoyed a storied collegiate career. A 2012 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year and 2013 Honorable Mention, Keel tossed an all-time school record 370.1 innings with the Matadors and ended his career eighth in CSUN history with a 2.75 ERA. A career 18-game winner, Keel started the most games in CSUN history (57) and collected the fourth-most strikeouts (269). He also finished with six complete games over his career and helped CSUN to a 31-win season in 2013 and a 33-win campaign in 2015.

Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round of the 2015 draft, Keel has made numerous stops in the organization including stints with Class-A teams including the Tri-City Dust Devils, Lake Elsinore Storm and Fort Wayne TinCaps as well as with the San Antonio Missions, a Double-A squad. Currently back again with the TinCaps, Keel posted a 2.97 ERA, five wins and 62 strikeouts in 75.2 innings with Fort Wayne last year. Keel holds a career ERA of 3.80 along with 10 wins and 125 strikeouts in 154.0 innings of work.

Jordan Johnson, CSUN class of 2014, San Francisco Giants - Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels

Another standout pitcher, right hander Jordan Johnson (Elk Grove, CA) completed three seasons with the Matadors from 2012-14 and made 20 appearances including 13 starts. Recovering from injuries over his first two seasons with CSUN, Johnson earned three wins as a starter in 2014 as he posted a 4.33 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 72.2 innings.

Drafted in the 23rd round by the San Francisco Giants in 2014, Johnson has advanced from the rookie level to Double-A over the past three years. With stops with the Arizona League Giants, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Jose Giants, Augusta GreenJackets and now the Double-A team the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Johnson has enjoyed a well-traveled pro baseball career. Proving to be a workhorse in 2016, Johnson started 22 games with San Jose and picked up eight wins in 120.0 innings. With Richmond, Johnson has already logged 5.0 innings in two appearances and posted a 1.80 ERA.

Drew Muren, CSUN Class of 2011, Arizona Diamondbacks - Double-A Jackson Generals

The most eye-catching story of all of the former CSUN players belongs to Drew Muren (Ramona, CA). A three-year letterwinner with the Matadors (2008-2011), Muren was used a two-way player as a freshman but he would assume the center field role over his final two seasons with the team. Muren improved his batting average in each season with CSUN including hitting .306 in his final year. No stranger to turning the heads of major league scouts, Muren was drafted in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates then again the following the season by the Houston Astros in the 22nd round.

Muren stayed in the Astros organization for three years as he hit .270 and reached the Double-A level with the team's affiliate the Corpus Christi Hooks. After being released in 2014, Muren kept working at the game and eventually played for numerous independent clubs for two years. Not giving up on his dream to play at the major league level, Muren completed a tryout with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 and was offered a contract, but as a pitcher.

Pitching briefly in his career at CSUN, Muren returned to the mound in the Diamondbacks' organization. Showing off a mid-90's fastball, Muren has advanced up the ranks as he continues to develop as a pitcher. After a stint with the Diamondbacks at MLB Spring Training in March, Muren was assigned to the team's Double-A affiliate, the Jackson Generals. In the organization, Muren has registered a 4.29 ERA along with 62 strikeouts in 42.0 innings.

Alex Muren, CSUN class of 2012, Minnesota Twins - Single-A Fort Myers Miracle

Another three-year letterwinner and younger brother to Drew, Alex Muren played for the Matadors from 2010-12. Used as two-way player early on his career, Muren assumed a primary role as a pitcher over his last two seasons with the team. He posted a 5.22 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 157.0 innings to go along with nine wins. During his time with CSUN, Muren also tossed a one-hitter against Northwestern in a scheduled seven-inning game.

Drafted in the 2012 by the Minnesota Twins, Muren has made several stops within the organization. First playing for the Gulf Coast League Twins, he was then moved to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. In 2014, Muren was assigned to the Class-A team, the Fort Myers Miracle where he stayed until 2015. After a brief stint with the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts, Muren was reassigned back to Fort Myers. Battling through injuries since 2016, Muren has remained with the Twins organization on the Fort Myers squad. Over his professional career, Muren has posted 16 victories, a 2.73 ERA and 157 strikeouts in over 230 innings of work.

Joining the long list of former Matadors that played professionally, former CSUN Men's Basketball student-athlete, Amir Garrett has enjoyed an already impressive professional baseball career. A member of the Matadors during the 2013-14 season, Garrett signed a pro baseball contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 while he was a member of the college basketball team at St. John's. Moving his way up the ranks, Garrett made his big league debut with the Reds this season on April 7 as he pitched six shutout innings in a victory at St. Louis.

With a long tradition of preparing players for the next level, CSUN Baseball continues to be a pipeline for future pro baseball players. As they journey on through the ranks, these former Matadors have already carved out successful baseball careers. Looking to one day make it to the big leagues, the group will continue to utilize the tools they learned while wearing a Matador baseball jersey.

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Former Matadors Making their Marks in Pro Baseball

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