bˈɔːɹn ɪn dɪtɹˈɔɪt, mˈɪʃɪɡən, ˈɛʃən wʌz sˈaɪnd æɾ ˈeɪdʒ ˈeɪtiːn baɪ ðə fɪlɐdˈɛlfiə fˈɪliz æz ɐn ʌndɹˈæftᵻd ˈæmətʃɚ fɹˈiː ˈeɪdʒənt, ˌaʊɾəv ˌæɹɪzˈoʊnə stˈeɪt ˈɪn .
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Essian was signed at age 18 by the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted amateur free agent, out of Arizona State in .