Steve Hester, Small Club - 26

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Originally published Nov. 24, 2012
Cedarville University in Ohio saw hitter David Convertini signed to a pro contract in 2011. Convertini signed with the Braves and hoped to play rookie ball that year.

The signing put Convertini in a small club of other Cedarville signees, a club that may have as few as two members.

Convertini's signing marked the first Cedarville alum to sign such a pro contract in 24 years. The last Cedarville alum to do so was Steve Hester back in 1987.

Though he signed, Convertini was never credited with getting to a pro team. Hester, though, did get to a pro team, playing professionally in four seasons, never making the majors.

Hester's route to his pro career began in his native Virginia, playing ball at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet.

There, Hester is counted among a bigger club of players who played beyond high school. A list of Western Albemarle baseball alums counts six former players, Hester among them, as going beyond college, on to the pros.

Moving to Cedarville, Hester didn't stay long. The Reds selected him in the 13th round of the 1987 draft, after his freshman year at the school.

With the Reds, Hester started at rookie Billings. The right-hander started five games for the Mustangs, going 2-1, with a 5.76 ERA.

Hester moved to single-A Greensboro for 1988. There, he went 12-5, with a 2.92, the best season of his short career.

For 1989, Hester made single-A Cedar Rapids, going 10-7, with a 3.50 ERA. His career, though, ended in 1990, with Cedar Rapids. Hester is recorded as playing just one game for the single-A Reds that year, going six innings and giving up a single run.

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