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Ventura County Pirates’ infielder Kyle Soberano announced Wednesday, August 8 that he has committed to play for the Illinois State University Redbirds during the 2019-2020 academic year. He is the third player that the Pirates have committed to a NCAA Division I program this summer joining teammates Jason Ajamian and Josh Howitt.
Soberano specifically thanked the Pirates in his public announcement of his commitment.
“I am grateful to say that I have committed to play baseball at Illinois State University,” Soberano said on twitter. “Thank you to everyone who has helped me get here especially [College of the Canyons] athletics and [the Ventura] County Pirates.”
ISU plays in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds finished with a 36-26 overall record and 14-7 conference record last season.
Pirates’ general manager and head coach George Vranau was instrumental in making the offer possible. Vranau arranged for ISU head coach Steve Holm to travel to Fullerton July 27 to scout Soberano in game 1 of the Sunset Baseball League Finals. Soberano went 1-4 at the plate that game and Holm contacted him to extend an initial offer in the following days.
Soberano led the Pirates with a .518 on-base-percentage and a .472 batting average. His instincts as a baserunner allowed him to steal 13 bases, good for second most on the team. Soberano’s first-step quickness gives him above-average range defensively and he can play on either side of second base.
The Ventura County Pirates Baseball Club remains actively involved in helping its players advance in their careers as student-athletes. Any further commitments will be promptly reported.