Warrior Signs with Blue Jays

Westmont alumnus Michael Stefanic (‘18), who has played in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization since he signed in July 2018, has inked a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his Major League debut in 2022 and has played in 90 games with the Angels over the last three seasons. 

The 28-year-old second and third baseman is embracing the fresh start and hopes to make a big impression at the Blue Jays big league Spring Training camp in 2025.

Stefanic, who holds the Warriors’ record for most career hits (275), was undeterred after he didn’t get drafted. He compiled a videotape of himself playing and sent it to members of all 30 MLB teams. Weeks later, he received a call from Mike Gallego, then director of baseball development for the Angels.

An article in The Athletic quotes Gallego as saying, “To be honest with you, we were basically looking for some bodies at the time. And we were honest with him. When he got into town, we basically told him, ‘We don’t know long this is going to last.’”

That year in Rookie Ball, he hit .351, then .333 the next year in Low-A. After COVID-19 canceled the minor league season in 2020, he hit .345 in 2021 in Double-A ball then .341 for the Salt Lake City Bees, the Angels Triple-A affiliate.

“Mike embodies everything gritty in the game of baseball,” says Robert Ruiz, Westmont director of athletics. “He is tough out at the plate and an intuitive defender — and he is the same guy every day.”