“Dude! No freaking way!” University of Arizona junior starting pitcher, Cody Deason was showering at the Ojai, California home he grew up in after learning he had just been drafted in the fifth round (162nd overall) by the World Champion Houston Astros.

His incredulous reaction, though, was prompted by his dad’s news that his longtime Wildcat batterymate, Cesar Salazar, was also taken, two rounds later (222nd overall), by the team that beat his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series seven months earlier.

“Now I guess I’m super excited we won it last year,” Deason told the Arizona Daily Star recently, not bothering to stifle a hearty laugh.

Deason immediately called Salazar, and the former roommates began imagining rising through the Astros organization together. “When it happened,” Salazar said of his selection following Deason’s, “I was in shock.”

“Hopefully we’re going to move up the system together,” Salazar mused. “Me and him have a really good pitcher-catcher relationship. That would be the ideal plan.”

Deason, a 6’3″, 210-pound right-hander, signed his Houston contract June 13 for $285,000, $21,100 below his slot value. The 5’9″, 188-pound Salazar signed, as well, five days earlier for $27,000 below his slot value, at $160,000.

Cody Deason

The Ojai native attended Nordhoff High School (33 miles east of Santa Barbara) where he posted a 0.78 ERA in his senior season for the Rangers in 2015. He was a three-year varsity letter winner at Nordhoff, compiling a 2.77 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched. Deason was an all-conference performer and was named a 2015 Perfect Game Third Team All-American (California).

He had committed to play for the University of Oregon but ended up at Arizona where he methodically worked his way to becoming the Wildcats’ staff ace this, his third, season.

One of Deason’s highlights from this season was his start against #7 UCLA in early May. He spun a complete game, five-hit shutout, while yielding just one walk, while striking out 11, earning him Pitcher of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball News.

As a junior this spring, he finished 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA. In 91 innings, he allowed 70 hits, struck out 84 batters, while limiting opponents to a .216 batting average.

Baseball America: “Despite his success as a starter this year, Deason is viewed by most talent evaluators as a likely reliever in pro ball. His delivery has effort, and while he has a four-pitch mix, he is most effective when using his fastball/curveball combo. Deason’s average fastball sits in the low 90s, touching 94-95 mph. His best out pitch and most consistent offering is a 12-to-6 curveball that he can really spin.”

Salazar gives us a catcher’s peek at Deason’s tendencies and strengths, in a recent interview with the Daily Star: “Cody has a lot of confidence in his stuff. He attacks hitters. He’s not going to spot up every fastball, but he’s going to be around the zone. His curveball is one of the best if not the best I’ve caught.”

The Wildcats’ head baseball coach, Jay Johnson, chimes in on Deason: “He’s made great strides in his development over three years [with us]. Big fastball. His curveball is a major-league pitch. I could see him going either way (starter or reliever), but I could also see him coming out of a major-league bullpen within a few years.”

Cesar Salazar

Salazar, not to be confused with the 18-year-old Venezuelan outfielder of the same name in the Minnesota Twins’ organization, attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, AZ. That same school was attended by former Astro outfielder Tom Wiedenbauer and current Dodger prospect, outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Salazar earned the school’s Hal Eustice Award for baseball Player of the Year in 2015. He batted .613 in 62 at-bats during his senior season while collecting 16 RBIs, nine doubles, four triples, and four home runs.

“I chose Arizona because it was the best fit for me and it is close to my parents,” Salazar explained recently. Growing up in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, that still makes a grueling five-hour trek due north for Cesar’s folks.

In the summer of 2017, he played for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod League. Familiarizing himself with the wood bat, he impressed by posting four home runs, 13 RBIs, 22 hits, and two doubles in 33 games for the Firebirds.

Salazar wrapped up his 2018 campaign by hitting .339 in 189 ABs, with 11 doubles, a triple, and four home runs. His 21 walks against 26 strikeouts point to a discerning eye at the plate.

Baseball America: “He has made big strides at the plate this year by adding strength, but he is still regarded as a defense-first catcher. He blocks and receives well, and knows how to manage a pitching staff. His fringe-average arm plays up because his quick hands and feet allow him to get rid of the ball quickly. Salazar’s intangibles allow all of his tools to play up.”

Johnson: “Tremendous catcher. He’s almost like a good umpire back there — you don’t notice him because things always go right. He gets your pitchers additional pitches for strikes. His catch and release is really advanced. His leadership skills and his handling of the pitching staff are well documented. And I think he developed tremendously offensively between the first two years and this year.”

Salazar on Salazar: “This is what I always say: I’m not going to be the best player on the team or the most talented guy, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. I’m going to manage the pitching staff, and you’re going to have the best chance to win a game with me behind the plate.”

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