Professional Alumni- Jered Weaver

Starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Jered Weaver, is today's professional alumnus.

Weaver was born was born on Oct. 4, 1982 in Northridge, California. He has an older brother named Jeff Weaver, who is also a Major League Baseball player. According to Weaver's bio on MLB.com he attended Simi Valley High School and after graduation was accepted into Cal State University Long Beach.

While at CSULB Weaver had a successful 37-9 career record, posting in his last season a 15-1 record with an 1.62 ERA with 231 strikeouts and 21 walks in 144 innings. In 2004 he was awarded College Baseball's Dick Howser Trophy along with the Roger Clemens Award, two top college baseball honors. Weaver was also on the cover of EA SPORTS's MVP 07: NCAA Baseball which came out on Playstation 2 back in 2006.

A 2004 article for the Los Angeles Times described a young Weaver as a pitcher who, "batters with a fastball between 89 and 94 mph, a sharp slider and an improving curveball all thrown with the same three-quarter arm delivery. He also has a fiery streak that is revealed with a fist pump or yell after a strikeout that ends an inning or a long at-bat."

In the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft Weaver was the selected 12th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After months long of negotiations he finally signed with the club before the May 2005 deadline in what was the longest holdout in draft history. Only 361 days later, Weaver made his major league debut on May 27, 2006 against the Baltimore Orioles where he earned his first win after throwing five strikeouts in seven shutout innings of work.

Weaver's success continued in 2006 where he went on to win his first nine decisions to start his career, tying the American League record held by Whitey Ford. He ended his season with a 11-2 record and a 2.56 ERA finishing fifth in the years Rookie of the Year award standings according to baseball-reference.com.

In 2009 Weaver was given the first Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year award, which honors his teammate and close friend Nick Adenhart. Adenhart was tragically killed in a car crash back in spring 2009 after pitching a no decision shutout in his season debut.

Weaver enters the 2010 season with a career 57-27 record with 546 strikeouts and a 3.73 ERA. This offseason he reached a $4.265 million deal to avoid arbitration next year and is slotted to take over as the Angel's ace with the departure of John Lackey. Weaver told MLB.com about taking over as the number one starter, "Sure, I'd love to have that role. But I really don't like to think about it. I just try to improve every year, and this year is no exception."

Weaver recently pitched an inning on Jan 30, 2010 at a Dirtbag Alumni scrimmage. He was accompanied by Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, another former Long Beach alum.