A move to the bullpen produced an All-Star season for former Northwestern State ace Adam Oller.
Oller, a 20th-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, has been named to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which will be played Aug. 15 in Troy, New York.
In his first season with the West Virginia Black Bears, the Pirates’ short-season Class A affiliate, Oller has posted a 2-2 record with a 1.00 ERA and one save. In 27 innings, Oller has struck out 28 batters and allowed 29 base runners. Oller is one of five Black Bears named to the NYPL South All-Star Team.
After starting nine of his first 13 professional appearances, Oller has appeared in relief in 11 of his 12 games for West Virginia. In two professional seasons, Oller is 4-4 with a 3.31 ERA and three saves.
The Pirates drafted Oller after a standout three-year career at Northwestern State, which ended with Oller earning second-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball magazine and third-team honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association following the 2016 season.
Oller concluded his Demons career ranked fourth in career innings pitched (310 1-3), career ERA (2.06) and career starts (43), eighth in career wins (20) and ninth in career winning percentage (.741). He holds single-season top-10 marks in innings pitched (109 2-3, 2nd and 108 1-3, 3rd), ERA (1.23, 5th) and winning percentage (.889, T-8th).
I hope the Pirates elevate him up.