Former San Diego State pitcher Bubba Derby and several friends and family were at the Las Vegas concert Sunday night where at least 59 people were killed and hundreds were injured. All escaped unharmed, Derby said Monday.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Derby said on a conference call he feared he would not survive when bullets started hitting the ground around him.
“We didn’t know where the shots were coming from,” said Derby, who was “about 100 yards” in front of the stage when the shooting began. “It sounded like they were on top of us. Everyone got down. We tried to get as low to the ground as possible. The first thing I did was look for my family.
“I turned around and looked to find my aunt, and I’ll never forget the look on her face. We made eye and we thought we were about to die. You could hear the bullets ricocheting. It’s one of those moments where you just want to try to get out of there.”
Derby was a sixth-round draft choice of the Oakland A’s in 2015. Traded to Milwaukee in a 2016 deal for Khris Davis, the right-hander pitched this season at Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Colorado Springs, compiling a 3.26 ERA in 30 appearances (14 starts).
“I’m sending my thoughts and prayers to all the people and families they still can’t find,” Derby said, according to the Journal Sentinel story. “It’s not something I ever wanted to see. I’m extremely grateful that I was able to get out. It makes me think about the ones who weren’t so lucky. I definitely had an angel looking out for me.”
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