IRVINE, Calif. --- Following the 20 rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this week that saw four current and incoming Anteaters selected, another signing has been added in the undrafted free agent inking of UCI outfielder, Mike Peabody, by the Los Angeles Angels.

Peabody was excited when asked about the signing and the next step in his playing career. "I am indebted to UC Irvine and the coaches for giving me the chance to play for four years and be in this position. I'm very grateful to the Angels for giving me the chance to continue playing, and I can't wait to get started."

The fourth-year 'Eater put out an impressive 2021 campaign earning Big West co-Field Player of the Year status where he hit .353 scoring 57 times, driving in 57, and knocking 27 of his 73 hits for extra bases. In 40 Big West games, he was among the leaders hitting .361 with seven home runs and a Big West best 52 RBIs.

The all-around talent went gap-to-gap in center field and brought speed on the basepaths with nine steals in 2021 to give him 19 in his UCI career. He set a new program record with 27 hit by pitches in 2021, second in the nation, and was hit a UCI record 51 times over his career. That helped toward his team-high .481 on-base-percentage and 1.081 OPS.

Peabody joins the Los Angeles Angels organization who also call Orange County home like the 'Eaters. The Angels added a slew of Anteaters through the draft in the 70s, and since then the likes of Jeff Oberdank in 1984 and most recently Francis Larson in 2010 and Brian Hernandez in 2011. With the cutdown in draft rounds from once 50 to 40 and now to 20, free agent signings may be on the rise. Since 2002, a handful of Anteaters have signed as UDFAs like David Kennedy, Steve Schroer, Chad Lundahl, R.J. Brown, Jon Hurst, Race Parmenter, and Alex Guenette.