Pitcher Derek West to Return to Pitt
6/11/2018 12:42:00 PM | Baseball
Redshirt Sophomore Postpones Professional Career
PITTSBURGH – After being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 28th round of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft, pitcher Derek West has announced his return to the University of Pittsburgh.
"I would like to thank my friends and family for all the support and congratulations on my draft selection," West said. "After some serious thought, I am going to wait to start my professional career and I will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh to further my degree and develop another year as a player and person. Hail to Pitt!"
West was taken with the 832nd pick, as Pitt's third player, and third pitcher, selected in the draft.
He provided the Panthers some clutch performances in his first season after back-to-back injuries sidelined him for his first two years of action. He made 13 appearances as a redshirt sophomore, including nine starts, holding down the mid-week starting role for the majority of the year. No performance was bigger than his 5.0 innings of hitless work against nationally-ranked and top-seeded North Carolina in Pitt's pool-clinching victory in the ACC Championship. He allowed just one walk and struck out three to earn his third win of the season as the Panthers earned a 5-4 victory.
The Orange City, Fla., native secured his first collegiate win on opening weekend in a lopsided 17-3 victory over Toledo. He would throw 3.2 innings of one-run work, striking out four in his collegiate debut. He struck out a career-high seven batters twice in 2018, whiffing seven against Massachusetts March 2 and again against NCAA qualifier Kent State April 10.
West missed both the 2016 and 2017 seasons after Tommy John surgery and a knee injury.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
"I would like to thank my friends and family for all the support and congratulations on my draft selection," West said. "After some serious thought, I am going to wait to start my professional career and I will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh to further my degree and develop another year as a player and person. Hail to Pitt!"
#H2P pic.twitter.com/CxejZGOiG4
— Derek (@DWestPitt) June 11, 2018
West was taken with the 832nd pick, as Pitt's third player, and third pitcher, selected in the draft.
He provided the Panthers some clutch performances in his first season after back-to-back injuries sidelined him for his first two years of action. He made 13 appearances as a redshirt sophomore, including nine starts, holding down the mid-week starting role for the majority of the year. No performance was bigger than his 5.0 innings of hitless work against nationally-ranked and top-seeded North Carolina in Pitt's pool-clinching victory in the ACC Championship. He allowed just one walk and struck out three to earn his third win of the season as the Panthers earned a 5-4 victory.
The Orange City, Fla., native secured his first collegiate win on opening weekend in a lopsided 17-3 victory over Toledo. He would throw 3.2 innings of one-run work, striking out four in his collegiate debut. He struck out a career-high seven batters twice in 2018, whiffing seven against Massachusetts March 2 and again against NCAA qualifier Kent State April 10.
West missed both the 2016 and 2017 seasons after Tommy John surgery and a knee injury.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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