Former UConn baseball pitcher Ben Casparius (2021) is headed to the Major Leagues after being called up late Saturday night to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Wesport, Conn. native has made 18 starts this season for AAA Oklahoma City and posted a 3.48 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched. 

Casparius was drafted in the 5th Round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Dodgers after being an ABCA First Team All-Region and Second Team All-BIG EAST performer for the Huskies. He posted the second most strikeouts in a UConn single season with 127 in 2021 which ranked 12th nationally. He also led the BIG EAST Conference in starts (15), wins (8), innings pitched (91.2) and strikeouts (127). 

The right-handed would become the 19th UConn player to appear in Major League Baseball and would be the eighth Husky coached by head coach Jim Penders to play in a Big League game. 

Casparius joins a couple former Huskies on the Dodger bench with Nick Ahmed recently signed and playing shortstop and Eric Yavarone serving as Director of Performance Scouting, Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach.

The last time three Huskies were on the bench together for a Major League game was when George Springer, Anthony Kay and Pete Walker were all together with the Toronto Blue Jays (2021-22). 

Casparius would be the third UConn pitcher that Josh MacDonald has coached to the MLB. With Scott Oberg and Anthony Kay being the others.