ORLANDO – Former UCF right-handed pitcher Ben Vespi has signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
Vespi becomes the third Knight to sign an MLB contract in 2024, as fellow right-handed pitchers Najer Victor and Chase Centala were drafted by the Angels (14th round) and Marlins (20th round), respectively, a couple of weeks ago.
Vespi, who is from Boynton Beach, Florida, led the Black and Gold on the mound in 2024 in starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He went 4-4 overall with a 4.62 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 78.0 innings pitched. He also limited opponents to a .267 average and was UCF’s Friday night starter.
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starting pitcher for the Knights, Vespi earned first team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2022 and Preseason All-AAC accolades in 2023. He also earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team honors in 2024. He leaves UCF ranked ninth in the program’s record books in career appearances (76) and 10th in strikeouts (222).
Vespi joins his older brother Nick Vespi in the Orioles organization. Nick is a left-handed pitcher and currently plays with the Norfolk Tides at Triple-A. Nick has been up at the Major League level with the Orioles in each of the last three seasons.
Officially an Oriole! ✍️
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) July 27, 2024
Congrats, @benvespiiii! pic.twitter.com/X2WG9Ocqqu