June 25, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - Matt Otteman led the Southland Conference with a .432 batting average - the third highest in conference history - but it was his pitching ability that allowed him to sign a free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday afternoon. Otteman (Lockport, Ill.), a 6-foot-1, 210 pound right-hander, becomes the fourth Maverick pitcher to be drafted or sign a free agent contract with a Major League Baseball organization this year, just four days after fellow senior Andy Sauter inked a deal with the Brewers.

Otteman becomes the third UT Arlington player, all since 2004, to sign a contract with the Mariners. Current big league relief pitcher Mark Lowe (5th round, 2004) and Triple-A standout catcher Adam Moore (6th round, 2006) remain with Seattle after signing their professional contracts after being drafted.

The Mariners flew Otteman to Peoria, Ariz., on Tuesday afternoon before he passed a physical and signed a contract on Wednesday afternoon. Otteman joins Seattle's Arizona Mariners, which is the club's Rookie League team.

Otteman made 10 appearances (two starts) on the mound this season where he averaged 14.2 strikeouts/9 innings. He went 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 24.0 innings pitched allowing 15 walks with 38 strikeouts. Otteman held opponents to a .239 batting average and allowed only five extra-base hits. In addition, he gave up 21 base hits and combined on two shutouts.

The start of Otteman's 2009 season on the hill saw him record nine of his first 11 outs on the mound via strikeout. He made his first start against Northwood where he pitched 5.0 innings and struck out eight while allowing four hits and just one run.

Perhaps his most impressive relief outing came against then-No. 17 Oklahoma at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington. Otteman pitched 3.0 innings in relief where he recorded eight of nine outs by strikeouts. He allowed only three base hits while posting the victory. During the past two seasons, Otteman posted wins against Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, who were all nationally ranked at the time.

Otteman had one of the best seasons in Mavericks history at the plate, recording a .432 batting average with 95 base hits, 15 doubles, eight triples (led SLC), nine home runs and tied a school-record with 69 RBI. He was named first team Southland All-Conference, first team ABCA South Central All-Region and was named to the second team All-PING! Baseball Team.

He started the season with the longest hitting streak in NCAA Division I while tying a then-school record 26-game hit streak. His batting average, base hits and triples all rank second in UT Arlington single-season history.

The UT Arlington baseball program has now had 29 Major League Baseball draft or free agent selections since 2001 - including 17 pitchers - which have all been coached by UT Arlington head coach Darin Thomas.