Pitcher Andrew Elliott drafted by Baltimore Orioles

Wright State closer Andrew Elliott was drafted in the 30th round by Baltimore Wednesday in the Major Baseball Draft.

Wright State senior pitcher Andrew Elliott was selected by Baltimore Wednesday in the Major Baseball Draft.  He was drafted by the Orioles in the 30th round with the 913th pick.

Elliott, who is from Wheelersburg, Ohio, was the Horizon League Relief Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2015 as well as a First Team All-League honoree. He tied for the league lead in saves with 11 as he posted a 5-4 record with a 2.61 earned run average. Elliott recorded 56 strikeouts in 48.1 innings while holding the opposition to a .201 batting average.

“I am not sure I can put into words how happy I am for Andrew and his family,” said Wright State head coach Greg Lovelady. “I have seen how much work he has put in and how dominant he was on the mound the last two years.”

“The Orioles got a really special and prepared kid and I am thoroughly excited to follow his professional career,” added Lovelady. “I know that he will represent the RaiderGang well.”

With the 11 saves in 2015, Elliott finished with 25 in his career, good for third on the all-time Raider list. He passed current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reliever Joe Smith (22) with three saves in the final regular-season series against Valparaiso at Nischwitz Stadium. Elliott also picked up a save in the league tournament versus UIC as the Raiders rallied for an 8-5 victory to advance to the championship.

Along with the 25 saves, Elliott struck out 146 batters in 144.1 innings during his Wright State career in posting an 8-5 record with a 2.24 earned run average.

Elliott is the first Wright State player selected in the draft since Greg Robinson and Aaron Fields were drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians, respectively, in 2010.