Gomez signs undrafted free agent contract with Atlanta Braves

NORFOLK, Virginia – The Old Dominion University baseball team has another arm headed to the professional level as Jacob Gomez signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

He joins John Holobetz, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the MLB draft on Monday.

A left-handed pitcher from Rutherford, New Jersey, Gomez finished his senior campaign ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference with seven saves. He was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year midseason watch list. His 2024 season totals included a 2-2 record, a 2.88 ERA and a team-high 64 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. He made two starts in 17 appearances for the Monarchs this season and held opponents to a .229 batting average against him.

Gomez earned his first win of the year in the opener of a doubleheader against Northeastern on March 8. He pitched the final three innings, holding the Huskies to one run on two hits while striking out six. On April 6 at 20th-ranked Coastal Carolina, he earned the save after holding the Chanticleers scoreless for 4.2 innings. He scattered three hits, recorded a season-high nine strikeouts and struck out all three batters in the bottom of the sixth inning.

His other win came in the first round of the Sun Belt Championship, when ODU faced ninth-seeded South Alabama on May 21. With the Jaguars leading 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Gomez held the Jaguars in check the rest of the way, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. The effort helped Gomez earn Sun Belt All-Tournament Team honors as he finished his week in Montgomery, Ala., with a 1-0 record with a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 innings and two appearances.

In his four seasons with the Monarchs, Gomez went 14-7 with nine saves in five starts, 74 appearances and 180 innings. He posted a career 4.30 ERA and finished his time in Norfolk with 197 strikeouts.