Somerset Patriots Re-Sign RHP Will Oliver

Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have announced the re-signing of right-handed starting pitcher Will Oliver.

Oliver returns for his second season with the Somerset Patriots and second in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The righty made five starts for Reynosa of the Mexican League to begin the 2016 season.

The Newport Beach, California native joined the Patriots in early August last year after he posted a 9-2 record with a 1.59 ERA, five complete games, three shutouts and 88 strikeouts in 13 starts for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. He continued his success once in Somerset, going 6-2 with a 3.17 ERA in nine regular season starts to finish the year.

Oliver shined again in the postseason, helping lead the Patriots to their Atlantic League-best sixth championship in franchise history. The 6’2” hurler dazzled in his postseason debut. With Somerset facing elimination in Game Four of the Liberty Division Championship Series against the Long Island Ducks, Oliver tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout to keep the season alive.

The Palomar College alumnus later started Game Two of the Atlantic League Championship Series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, and picked up the win after he yielded just two runs over seven innings with eight strikeouts. Overall, Oliver went 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA and 10 strikeouts in his two postseason starts for Somerset.

A 35^th-round draft pick by the New York Yankees in 2010, Oliver spent the first three seasons of his professional career in the Yankees organization before joining Evansville in 2014. He will be activated prior to the Patriots’ Tuesday night game against the New Britain Bees.

The 2016 Somerset Patriots Season Presented By Ford is underway. For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2016 season, stop by TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 34 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB.  The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.

For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com

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