Jake Arrieta starts TCU’s alumni game, loses 9-1 to Varsity

Before making his way to Mesa to join the rest of his pitching staff on Feb. 19, Cubs’ Jake Arrieta picked up the start for the TCU Horned Frogs alumni baseball team on Saturday.

A game in which the No. 2 ranked Horned Frogs would demolish the alumni team by the score of 9-1.

The event was held yesterday afternoon at Lupton Stadium and gave fans the opportunity to get a peek at their 2015 TCU baseball team. Admission was free for those who wished to attend while the team conducted a fan appreciation event the same day.

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Arrieta, 28, was joined by fellow big league players in Brandon Finnegan (Royals), Scott Atchison (Indians), Matt Carpenter (Cardinals) and Bryan Holaday (Tigers).

Chicago’s 2014 ace attended Texas Christian University for three years after transferring from Weatherford College where he pitched for just one year.

He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the 2004 draft prior to transferring to TCU. Arrieta chose to stick with the Horned Frogs and would later be drafted in the fifth round of the 2007 draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Arrieta earned a ton of honors as a member of the Horns Frogs and finished tied for first place in the nation with 14 wins as a Sophomore. He recorded a 2.35 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) that year and struck out 111 batters in 111 innings.

Fans were finally able to see the 2006 version of Arrieta as the Cubs ace in 2014. As we all know, he finished with a solid 2.53 ERA with a 10-5 record while recording a 167/41 K/BB ratio in 156 2/3 innings of work.

Although the weight of the rotation is no longer on the shoulders of Arrieta, he’s still a huge piece of this ball club. So don’t be surprised if he gets selected to represent the Chicago Cubs and the National League in the All-Star game later this Summer.

It would be the first of his big league career.

Next: Cubs invite 19 players to Spring Training