FAIRFAX, Va. – Former Mason pitcher Tyler Zombro has agreed to sign a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Zombro, a native of Staunton, Va., finished his senior season with a 6-5 record and a 2.78 ERA and led the Atlantic 10 in innings pitched (96.1) and tied for first in the conference in starts (14).  He struck out 76 and walked just 16 batters, while allowing only 22 extra-base hits during the 2017 season.

The right-hander received the call earlier today that his baseball journey will continue.  It's that call that every player dreams of.

"I was working this morning at R & D Baseball Academy and was working with a few of our college clients and I saw I had a missed call from Lou Wieben, the mid-Atlantic guy for the Rays," Zombro said.  "I went outside and called him back and he said he spoke with the front office this morning and found out there's a shortage of pitchers.  He said are you still interested in playing, and from there it was an automatic yes."

Zombro is scheduled to travel to Port Charlotte, Florida this weekend and will then find out where he will be assigned.

"Sunday afternoon I have to meet with one of their representatives and from there I'm going straight to the complex to sign," said Zombro of the anticipation of inking a professional contract.  "It's overwhelming.  Something that really stuck out is that you commit to the process and the results will kind of take care of themselves.  Signing that piece of paper will just kind of be the icing on the cake and going into pro ball I have to keep the same mentality of the process over outcome mindset."

Zombro is Mason's all-time leader in starts (55) and innings pitched (318.1) and ranks tied for second in wins (23) and he reflected back on the last four years.

"Mason meant a lot to me," Zombro said.  "I remember walking in the door as a freshman with a lot of talented guys.  All of the opportunities that coach gave me, I can't thank him enough.  Trusting me to put me out there every week and I loved nothing more than winning games for Mason."

"Tyler leaves George Mason as one of the all-time greats to ever wear the green and gold," Mason head coach Bill Brown said.  "The opportunity to play professional baseball is a tribute to his ability, tireless work ethic and love for the game.  This is a well-deserved honor for Tyler.  He will be a fantastic professional athlete and we are all excited to watch as he begins his professional career.  I know he will make all of Mason nation proud."

Zombro was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I Baseball Team, becoming just the 10th Mason student-athlete to be named Academic All-America since 1990.  A three-time Provost Scholar Athlete, he was also selected to the VaSID All-Academic Team three times during his Mason career.