Baseball Guru
01-20-2005, 08:40 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=devilraysniemann&prov=st&type=lgns
January 20, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Righthander Jeff Niemann, one of three pitchers from Rice University selected in the first round of last year's draft, signed a major league contract Thursday with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Niemann will be added to the Devil Rays' 40-man roster after completing a physical.
The 6-9 Niemann was chosen fourth overall by Tampa Bay after three successful seasons at Rice, where he compiled a 28-4 record with a 2.41 ERA in 56 games.
In 2003, Niemann was dominant, going 17-0 while leading the Owls to the College World Series title. The 21-year-old was hampered by a strained right groin in 2004 but still managed to post a 6-3 record with three saves and a 3.02 ERA, allowing 59 hits and recording 94 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings.
Niemann was part of a trio of outstanding hurlers at Rice and was the second Owl taken in the draft. Philip Humber was selected third overall by the New York Mets and Wade Townsend went to the Baltimore Orioles with the eighth pick.
January 20, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Righthander Jeff Niemann, one of three pitchers from Rice University selected in the first round of last year's draft, signed a major league contract Thursday with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Niemann will be added to the Devil Rays' 40-man roster after completing a physical.
The 6-9 Niemann was chosen fourth overall by Tampa Bay after three successful seasons at Rice, where he compiled a 28-4 record with a 2.41 ERA in 56 games.
In 2003, Niemann was dominant, going 17-0 while leading the Owls to the College World Series title. The 21-year-old was hampered by a strained right groin in 2004 but still managed to post a 6-3 record with three saves and a 3.02 ERA, allowing 59 hits and recording 94 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings.
Niemann was part of a trio of outstanding hurlers at Rice and was the second Owl taken in the draft. Philip Humber was selected third overall by the New York Mets and Wade Townsend went to the Baltimore Orioles with the eighth pick.