IN BRIEF : Olerud to Pass Up Baseball Draft
Washington State pitcher-first baseman John Olerud, a junior who was billed as a potential No. 2 selection in the June major league baseball draft, has decided to complete his final year of college eligibility.
The 6-foot, 5-inch 200-pound Olerud underwent surgery Feb. 27 to repair a brain aneurysm.
He said he made his decision Sunday after discussions with his parents. He also said he will skip the U.S. national team tryouts in June.
“I just decided that it would be best for me to stay here for another year,” said Olerud, who missed 39 games this season because of the surgery and has yet to regain the strength and form that led to his being named Baseball America’s 1988 NCAA baseball player of the year.
“If I hadn’t had this (surgery) and I had had a good year, I would have turned pro, most definitely,” he said.
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