Brett Wallace and Zechry Zinicola — the pair played baseball at ASU together from 2005-2006 — could be a part of the next wave that splashes into professional baseball. By no means, though, are the Arizona Fall League teammates the first.

Wallace and Zinicola watched on as former Sun Devils Andre Ethier (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox) were ousted in their respective league’s championship series' this postseason. But they also witnessed ASU's own Jeff Larish (Detroit Tigers) and Travis Buck (Oakland A's) flounder at the big league level in 2008.

Like Wallace and Zinicola, MLB players Ethier, Pedroia, Larish and Buck have all spent time in the AFL.

“It’s cool to have that many brothers that you played with,” Wallace said. “You know that no matter what if [for example] ‘Zini’ needed something, I’d be there.”

After a school-record 15 amateur players were selected in the 2008 MLB draft — 14 signed with teams and one signed a free agent contract — Wallace knows a lot of familiar faces in his new field of work.

Five former ASU players will be representing their respective professional teams: Wallace, Zinicola, Tony Barnette and Beau Vaughan.

Larish is enjoying his second go-around in the league. The AFL continues through Nov. 22 at spring training stadiums in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Peoria and Surprise.

“You get a little pride when you play against a fellow Devil,” Zinicola said last weekend when his Peoria Saguaros were set to face Larish’s Mesa Solar Sox. “ASU, and the Pac-10 in general, [are] all over the map.”

ASU’s program has seen 90 players reach MLB all-time, including studs like Barry Bonds and duds like Mike Esposito.

Zinicola obviously wants to be the former.

He is forced to fly under the radar when sitting beside the imposing Wallace, his teammate twice over.

But ‘Zini’ has a story to tell too.

After recording 18 saves in his three-year career at ASU, the right-handed relief pitcher was selected in the sixth round by MLB’s Washington Nationals, a franchise starved for pitching since replacing the Montreal Expos in 2005.

Zinicola is ever so close to his MLB debut, especially after a 2008 season in which he spent time at each of the organization’s three minor league levels.

Zinicola went a combined 8-5 in 47 appearances out of the bullpen. He finished with AAA Columbus.

He is, as they say, on the fast track.

“Whenever you’re in AAA, you’re always a phone call away, an injury away,” he said. “You just try and do well, and when the time comes, hopefully you get your shot.”

Zinicola said he hopes to stick in the big leagues for years to come.

But he also remains strident in seeking his degree from ASU.

Zinicola is two semesters away from a degree in education; he said he would like to coach baseball when he’s done playing it.

Reach the reporter at apentis@asu.edu.