Photo by: MLive.com
Former ‘Jack Will Vest Dominant as Tigers Beat Guardians to Advance to ALDS
10/3/2025 12:09:00 PM | Baseball
Houston native registers a Game 1 save, closes out Game 3 in seventh and eighth career postseason appearances, respectively
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Former SFA baseball standout Will Vest and the Detroit Tigers are advancing to the American League Divisional Series due in large part to Vest's efforts in the backend of Games 1 and 3 of the Tigers' wild card series with the Cleveland Guardians.
The right-hander closed out Tarik Skubal's historic 14-K effort in Game 1 of the series by tossing the final 1.1 innings with a strikeout to shut the door on a 2-1 Tigers victory. Two days later, Vest was the fourth and final arm out of Detroit's bullpen and worked the final 1.2 innings with a strikeout to help send the Tigers to the ALDS.
For his postseason career, which includes six appearances with Detroit in last season's playoffs, Vest has appeared in eight games totaling 9.0 IP with 11 strikeouts, a 1.00 ERA and a 0.44 WHIP.
Detroit selected Vest with the 365th pick in round 12 of the 2017 MLB First Year Players Draft. He is the third-highest drafted player in program history. His MLB debut came with the Mariners, who picked Vest in the December 2020 Rule 5 draft, but he returned to the Tigers in July of 2021.
Vest, who originally signed and played as an infielder with the Lumberjacks before making the move to the mound for the 2017 season, quickly became one of the top relief arms in the Southland Conference. The right-hander ranked second among all arms in the 13-team league and 35th in all of NCAA Division I baseball with 31 appearances - all of which came in relief. It marked the third-most in a single season in the history of the program.
Vest pitched 45.2 innings and finished with one save and a 3-0 record. He posted a 1.38 ERA and showcased an overpowering fastball to register 46 strikeouts, while only allowing a dozen runs on 38 hits and 18 walks. Those 46 strikeouts through 45.2 frames result in a strikeouts per nine rate of 9.07 – a top 10 single-season mark in SFA history.
UP NEXT
The Tigers head to the Pacific Northwest for a divisional series with Seattle, Vest's former team. Game 1 is slated for Saturday, October 4 (7:38 CT, FS1), Game 2 is set for Sunday, October 5 (7:03 CT, FS1) with the Tuesday, October 7 Game 3 TBD. The if-necessary games are slotted for Wednesday, October 8 and Friday, October 10.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA baseball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The right-hander closed out Tarik Skubal's historic 14-K effort in Game 1 of the series by tossing the final 1.1 innings with a strikeout to shut the door on a 2-1 Tigers victory. Two days later, Vest was the fourth and final arm out of Detroit's bullpen and worked the final 1.2 innings with a strikeout to help send the Tigers to the ALDS.
For his postseason career, which includes six appearances with Detroit in last season's playoffs, Vest has appeared in eight games totaling 9.0 IP with 11 strikeouts, a 1.00 ERA and a 0.44 WHIP.
We see you, @willyvest! ??
— Lumberjack Baseball (@SFA_Baseball) October 2, 2025
The former 'Jack picked up a Game 1 save and closed out Game 3 of the Wild Card series and the @Tigers are moving on??
#AxeEm #Postseason https://t.co/QOIzo9X5f5
Detroit selected Vest with the 365th pick in round 12 of the 2017 MLB First Year Players Draft. He is the third-highest drafted player in program history. His MLB debut came with the Mariners, who picked Vest in the December 2020 Rule 5 draft, but he returned to the Tigers in July of 2021.
Vest, who originally signed and played as an infielder with the Lumberjacks before making the move to the mound for the 2017 season, quickly became one of the top relief arms in the Southland Conference. The right-hander ranked second among all arms in the 13-team league and 35th in all of NCAA Division I baseball with 31 appearances - all of which came in relief. It marked the third-most in a single season in the history of the program.
Vest pitched 45.2 innings and finished with one save and a 3-0 record. He posted a 1.38 ERA and showcased an overpowering fastball to register 46 strikeouts, while only allowing a dozen runs on 38 hits and 18 walks. Those 46 strikeouts through 45.2 frames result in a strikeouts per nine rate of 9.07 – a top 10 single-season mark in SFA history.
UP NEXT
The Tigers head to the Pacific Northwest for a divisional series with Seattle, Vest's former team. Game 1 is slated for Saturday, October 4 (7:38 CT, FS1), Game 2 is set for Sunday, October 5 (7:03 CT, FS1) with the Tuesday, October 7 Game 3 TBD. The if-necessary games are slotted for Wednesday, October 8 and Friday, October 10.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA baseball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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