Former University of Kentucky star Alex Meyer has agreed on terms of contract with the Washington Nationals.
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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky junior right-handed starting pitcher Alex Meyer has agreed to terms with the Washington Nationals as a first-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, it was announced.
Meyer agreed to terms with the Nationals as their 23rd overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft just before the signing deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday night. A native of Greensburg, Ind., Meyer’s selection at No. 23 in the first round marked the highest a UK player had been drafted since Chad Green went No. 8 overall in the 1996 MLB Draft, with Meyer becoming the fourth overall first round pick in UK baseball history joining Green, James Paxton (2009, No. 37 overall) and Joe Blanton (2002, No. 24 overall).
Meyer is the 14th UK player selected in the top 10 rounds since the Wildcats claimed the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship. A former Aflac All-America selection out of Greensburg High School, Meyer is the sixth Wildcat pitcher to be picked in the top six rounds in the last four years.
A 6-foot-9, 220-pound right-hander, Meyer completed a dynamic career in 2011 as the league coaches tabbed him second-team All-Southeastern Conference, the first UK starter since Chris Rusin in 2008 to earn the accolade. As UK’s Friday-night starter in 2011, Meyer led UK in starts (14), wins (seven), ERA (2.94), complete games (four), complete-game shutouts (two), innings pitched (101), strikeouts (110) and opponent batting average (.222).
A 20th-round pick of the Boston Red Sox out of high school in 2008, Meyer finished his junior campaign as the SEC leader in strikeouts, strikeouts looking (48), innings pitched per game (7.21), complete games and complete-game shutouts. Meyer ranked second in the SEC in innings pitched, ninth in ERA, eighth in wins, second in strikeouts per game (9.8) and fifth in opponent batting average. With his 110 strikeouts in 2011, Meyer became the 10th player in UK history to total 100 or more strikeouts in a season, ranking eighth-best in UK annals. Meyer ranked ninth in the NCAA in strikeouts in 2011 and finished his career with 253 strikeouts in 211.1 innings, the fifth-most strikeouts in school history.
Meyer was twice honored as the SEC Pitcher of the Week as a junior, also earning Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week accolades. He finished the year on a tear, tossing six consecutive quality starts and totaling a 4-1, 1.97 ERA in those outings. In his 10 quality starts as a junior, Meyer posted a 6-3 record and a 1.88 ERA. In a three-start span to conclude his junior season, Meyer went 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA, with wins over No. 1 Vanderbilt, Georgia and No. 4 Florida. Meyer faced off with the four SEC division winners, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Vandy in 2011 and posted staggering numbers against the top competition in college baseball, posting a 3-1, 1.36 ERA mark, allowing only 19 hits in 33 frames.
Meyer agreed to terms with the Nationals as their 23rd overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft just before the signing deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday night. A native of Greensburg, Ind., Meyer’s selection at No. 23 in the first round marked the highest a UK player had been drafted since Chad Green went No. 8 overall in the 1996 MLB Draft, with Meyer becoming the fourth overall first round pick in UK baseball history joining Green, James Paxton (2009, No. 37 overall) and Joe Blanton (2002, No. 24 overall).
Meyer is the 14th UK player selected in the top 10 rounds since the Wildcats claimed the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship. A former Aflac All-America selection out of Greensburg High School, Meyer is the sixth Wildcat pitcher to be picked in the top six rounds in the last four years.
A 6-foot-9, 220-pound right-hander, Meyer completed a dynamic career in 2011 as the league coaches tabbed him second-team All-Southeastern Conference, the first UK starter since Chris Rusin in 2008 to earn the accolade. As UK’s Friday-night starter in 2011, Meyer led UK in starts (14), wins (seven), ERA (2.94), complete games (four), complete-game shutouts (two), innings pitched (101), strikeouts (110) and opponent batting average (.222).
A 20th-round pick of the Boston Red Sox out of high school in 2008, Meyer finished his junior campaign as the SEC leader in strikeouts, strikeouts looking (48), innings pitched per game (7.21), complete games and complete-game shutouts. Meyer ranked second in the SEC in innings pitched, ninth in ERA, eighth in wins, second in strikeouts per game (9.8) and fifth in opponent batting average. With his 110 strikeouts in 2011, Meyer became the 10th player in UK history to total 100 or more strikeouts in a season, ranking eighth-best in UK annals. Meyer ranked ninth in the NCAA in strikeouts in 2011 and finished his career with 253 strikeouts in 211.1 innings, the fifth-most strikeouts in school history.
Meyer was twice honored as the SEC Pitcher of the Week as a junior, also earning Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week accolades. He finished the year on a tear, tossing six consecutive quality starts and totaling a 4-1, 1.97 ERA in those outings. In his 10 quality starts as a junior, Meyer posted a 6-3 record and a 1.88 ERA. In a three-start span to conclude his junior season, Meyer went 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA, with wins over No. 1 Vanderbilt, Georgia and No. 4 Florida. Meyer faced off with the four SEC division winners, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Vandy in 2011 and posted staggering numbers against the top competition in college baseball, posting a 3-1, 1.36 ERA mark, allowing only 19 hits in 33 frames.
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UK's Alex Meyer Agrees to Terms with the Washington Nationals
Former University of Kentucky star Alex Meyer has agreed on terms of contract with the Washington Nationals.
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