New York Mets draft pick overcomes cancer twice
NEW YORK (BVM) — In the 2020 MLB Draft, the New York Mets selected Eric Orze with the 150th pick in the fifth round. The right-hander from the University of New Orleans (UNO), didn’t have the most typical journey to draft day.
Coming out of Glenbard North High School in Ill., Orze dominated his senior year with a perfect 12-0 record and a 1.05 ERA. Orze鈥檚 work on the mound and at the plate would help lead Glenbard to regional and sectional championships.
Deciding to play at a junior college after high school, Orze would attend Northwest Florida State College, where he would pitch in a combined 30 appearances on the mound in his two years at the program.聽
After his sophomore year at Northwest Florida State College, Orze decided to transfer to the University of New Orleans where he would be used primarily as a relief pitcher.
Orze’s first season with the program would unfortunately come to a quick end as the Privateers鈥� right-hander would experience severe groin pain after catching some of the teams鈥� bullpen sessions.
The pain, however, wouldn鈥檛 come from catching. After an early morning visit to the hospital, Orze would undergo an ultrasound that would later diagnose the then-20-year-old with testicular cancer.聽
Being in a different state, Orze had to break the news to his family over the phone. In an interview with Anthony DiComo of , Orze described what it was like to share the news with his mom.
鈥淚 could just hear her breathe for a second,鈥� Orze said, 鈥渁nd then she just goes, 鈥楲ook, I鈥檝e got to go. Your dad鈥檚 work is 10 minutes down the road, I鈥檒l call you back when I get there. I just need to go find your father.鈥� So she hung up, called me back probably 10 minutes later and she was already crying. … My dad was pretty emotional as well. That was definitely probably the toughest phone call I鈥檝e had to make.鈥�
After a successful surgery shortly after the diagnosis, Orze would return to the hospital after having trouble breathing. Needing to drain fluid from his lungs, doctors would also notice an abnormal mole on his back. The discovery would later lead to the diagnosis of skin cancer.
Now recovering from two types of cancers, Orze would miss part of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season. After a long recovery, Orze would finally get his chance to get back on the mound for the 2020 season.
Orze would pitch opening night against Southern University and would sport a 3-0 record and a 2.75 ERA, in the Privateers shortened 2020 season.聽
With a much smaller MLB Draft due to the shortened 2020 season, Orze was selected with the Mets鈥� final pick in the draft. The fifth-round pick officially signed with the Mets back in June and became the 91st player in UNO history to be selected in the MLB Draft.
