OBU Pitcher Picked By Indians In Fifth Round

Oklahoma Baptist senior pitcher Julian Merryweather was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Cleveland Indians on Friday afternoon.

Merryweather ended his career at OBU with a 22-5 record over two seasons. The All-American had a career ERA of just 1.73 in 182 innings pitched after tying the second-lowest ERA in program history with 1.07 in 2014. The senior from Berkley, Calif., registered 208 strikeouts with the Bison.

"We are extremely excited for Julian. This is a great reward for a lot of hard work and an excellent two years representing Oklahoma Baptist University," said OBU associate head coach Chris Klimas. "The Cleveland Indians got themselves an outstanding pitcher and an even better person. The entire OBU family will be rooting for him."

The Indians selected the right-hander with the 158th overall pick in the draft. "Nothing could have prepared me for that moment," said Merryweather. "When you get that call that you're going to play professional baseball, it's like a dream come true. I have worked my entire baseball career to get to this point."

Merryweather received first-team All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors and was also named to the 2014 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series All-Tournament Team. "I'm looking forward to the competition," said Merryweather of playing at the next level. "I want to face the best hitters out there, that's what it's all about."

With the selection, Merryweather becomes the 39th Bison player to get drafted, and the first since Daniel Howell and Eric Fredrick in 2013.