VANCOUVER – UBC pitcher
David Otterman (3rd, Coquitlam, BC) is the latest Thunderbird to be taken in the
Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected the left-hander in the seventh round (245th overall) of the draft today.
"It is a dream come true," said Otterman. "As a kid you dream of playing in the MLB and this is one of the steps to get there. When it happened, i was shocked. I had to sit with my head in my hands for a couple minutes to try and let it sink in, and it still hasn't."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Otterman is UBC's 18th MLB pick since the school's baseball program was resurrected in 1997.
“A very exciting day for David, his family, and the UBC baseball program,” said Thunderbirds head coach
Terry McKaig. “David has worked very hard at UBC for three years and we are proud to develop another high draft pick. This continues our trend of showing top Canadian players that attending UBC is both a great academic decision as well as a path in baseball that can lead to a pro career.”
Otterman started 13 games for the Thunderbirds in the 2012 NAIA baseball season, going 5-4 with a 2.96 earned run average (ERA) in 76 innings pitched.
He gave up just 52 hits this year, holding his opponents to a .196 batting average. Otterman ranked 18th in the NAIA in that statistical category.
In his three seasons at UBC, Otterman started 20 games and appeared in 15 others as a reliever. His record is 8-7 with a 2.86 ERA.
"When i got to UBC, I was a long from where i am today. It's a testament to the coaching staff at UBC because it shows that they can take young ballplayers (like myself) and shape them into professionals. There is no question that i wouldn't be in the position i am today without the program at UBC," said Otterman.
“David now gets to realize his childhood dream of playing professional baseball. He will need some time to develop in the minors, but we really think he is capable of doing some special things in the next three to five years of his professional career,” said McKaig.
The 40-round MLB draft will conclude on Wednesday.
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