FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UofA) – Junior right-handed pitcher Chris Oliver was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday.
Oliver, who was the 112th overall pick overall, is the second Arkansas player selected in the 2014 MLB Draft, joining Brian Anderson who was taken 76th overall by the Miami Marlins.
A native of Farmington, Ark., Oliver posted a 9-4 record as a starting pitcher for the Razorbacks in 2014. He had a 2.51 earned run average in 93.1 innings of work and added 59 strikeouts, while opponents hit .213 against the hard-throwing right hander.
The junior allowed one earned run or less in 10 of his 16 starts this season, and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts against No. 1 South Carolina on April 5, lasting 8.0 innings as Arkansas shutout the top-ranked Gamecocks to earn a series win. He later captured SEC Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance against the No. 1 team in the land.
Oliver rose to the occasion against the best programs in the country in 2014, facing seven teams ranked in the top 25 in the country and posting a 5-1 record. He earned wins over No. 1 South Carolina, No. 8 LSU, No. 11 Vanderbilt and added two victories against Ole Miss when the Rebels were ranked in the top 10.
He has a career earned run average of 2.64 in 41 collegiate appearances, including a 12-6 record and .217 batting average against.
The 2014 MLB Draft continues Friday with rounds 3-10, followed by rounds 11-40 Saturday at noon.
(Source: UofA)
