WASHINGTON - Recent Georgetown University graduate and baseball alum Simon Mathews (C'17) signed a free agent contract on Wednesday morning with the Los Angeles Angels. He will begin his professional career immediately in the Angels' minor league system.

"A career in professional baseball is a dream come true," Mathews said. "I feel like I've come a long way since Coach Wilk took a chance on me out of Temple. I grew a lot as a player and a man at Georgetown but one thing that never changed was my love for the game of baseball. It's an incredible feeling to say this is my job now and I can't wait to get to work."

Mathews started 14 games as a senior, finishing with four wins and a 5.12 ERA. He led the pitching staff with two complete games, 91.1 innings pitched and a program-record 85 strikeouts. As a junior in 2016, Mathews finished with a 5-4 record, tying for the team lead in wins, and ranked second on the GU pitching staff with 59 strikeouts. His five complete games were the most by a Georgetown pitcher since Pat Salvitti had five in 2003 and his 95.1 innings pitched tied for the third most in a Georgetown single-season history. Mathews graduated from the Hilltop in Georgetown's top 10 for career wins (14), ERA (3.72) and strikeouts (186).

He becomes the fifth Hoya alum currently playing in professional organized baseball. He joins former teammates Matt Smith (B'16), Curtiss Pomeroy (C'16) and David Ellingson, as well as Tim Adleman (N'10), who is currently pitching for the Cincinnati Reds.

Five players in pro ball are the tied for the most at one time under Georgetown Head Coach Pete Wilk, who has now seen 12 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft and 12 former players sign professional contracts.

The Blue & Gray finished the 2017 season with a 27-28 overall record, tying for the third most wins in program history. The 27 wins were also the most by a Georgetown team since 1985.