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Bess inks deal with Red Sox
6/16/2020 11:30:00 AM | Baseball
GCU 1st baseman delivered breakout 2019 season
Grand Canyon junior first baseman Cuba Bess signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox organization as an undrafted free agent on Tuesday.
Bess is the third Lopes player to join the professional ranks this week, following drafted pitcher Kade Mechals (White Sox) and free agent signee Drew Smith (Brewers).
"I first want to thank God and the Boston Red Sox for giving me this opportunity to continue to pursue my dream," Bess said. "I can't be more thankful for my coaches, teammates and GCU staff for all they have done for me over the course of four years at GCU. I'm very excited to get my professional career started and hit the ground running with this opportunity. Thank you again, Lope Nation, for everything. Go Sox!"
A 2016 MLB Draft pick by his home-state Rockies, Bess spent four seasons in the GCU program. He made 15 starts as a freshman on a loaded 2017 WAC title squad before suffering a season-ending injury in the fourth game of 2018 after a collision at first base.
In his first full season in 2019, Bess quickly impressed. An All-WAC second-team selection at year's end, Bess led the Lopes in batting average (.341), slugging percentage (.632) and on-base percentage (.476) with all three marks also ranking in the WAC's top 10. He posted the program's top slugging percentage since 2010 and top on-base percentage since 2012. Flashing the power, he slugged 11 home runs which was one off the team-leading pace of Kona Quiggle, who is now a member of the Detroit Tigers organization.
"It is a great opportunity for Cuba," GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He has been a young man of character and high integrity since arriving as a freshman. He has a lot of great baseball in front of him, and we are grateful to call him a Lope!"
Bess was just returning to full health from an offseason injury as the 2020 season began. He ended the shortened campaign with nine at bats, recording four hits.
Bess is set to become the 17th player in program history to sign a free agent deal with an MLB organization. In addition to Smith's Sunday signing, other recent free agent signings include Ethan Evanko and Griffin Barnes in 2018 and AJ Franks in 2017.
Bess becomes the first Boston free-agent signing of a GCU player. The Red Sox have drafted three Lopes, including the 2015 pick of Chad De La Guerra, who starred for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox last season.
The limited draft — which was shortened from 40 rounds to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic — turned many would-be draftees into undrafted free agents this year.
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Bess is the third Lopes player to join the professional ranks this week, following drafted pitcher Kade Mechals (White Sox) and free agent signee Drew Smith (Brewers).
"I first want to thank God and the Boston Red Sox for giving me this opportunity to continue to pursue my dream," Bess said. "I can't be more thankful for my coaches, teammates and GCU staff for all they have done for me over the course of four years at GCU. I'm very excited to get my professional career started and hit the ground running with this opportunity. Thank you again, Lope Nation, for everything. Go Sox!"
A 2016 MLB Draft pick by his home-state Rockies, Bess spent four seasons in the GCU program. He made 15 starts as a freshman on a loaded 2017 WAC title squad before suffering a season-ending injury in the fourth game of 2018 after a collision at first base.
In his first full season in 2019, Bess quickly impressed. An All-WAC second-team selection at year's end, Bess led the Lopes in batting average (.341), slugging percentage (.632) and on-base percentage (.476) with all three marks also ranking in the WAC's top 10. He posted the program's top slugging percentage since 2010 and top on-base percentage since 2012. Flashing the power, he slugged 11 home runs which was one off the team-leading pace of Kona Quiggle, who is now a member of the Detroit Tigers organization.
"It is a great opportunity for Cuba," GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He has been a young man of character and high integrity since arriving as a freshman. He has a lot of great baseball in front of him, and we are grateful to call him a Lope!"
Bess was just returning to full health from an offseason injury as the 2020 season began. He ended the shortened campaign with nine at bats, recording four hits.
Bess is set to become the 17th player in program history to sign a free agent deal with an MLB organization. In addition to Smith's Sunday signing, other recent free agent signings include Ethan Evanko and Griffin Barnes in 2018 and AJ Franks in 2017.
Bess becomes the first Boston free-agent signing of a GCU player. The Red Sox have drafted three Lopes, including the 2015 pick of Chad De La Guerra, who starred for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox last season.
The limited draft — which was shortened from 40 rounds to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic — turned many would-be draftees into undrafted free agents this year.
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