June 22, 2009

Auburn Doubledays Official Site

ST. LOUIS - Former Saint Louis University righthanders Zach Outman and Dave Sever, who were selected earlier this month by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, signed professional contracts and reported to the Auburn (N.Y.) Doubledays minor-league club, a short-season Class A affiliate in the Blue Jays' farm system.

The Doubledays are members of the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League. Their schedule runs from the middle of June through early September.

Sever was a 16th round selection by Toronto, while Outman went to the Blue Jays in the 28th round. The signing officially ends the collegiate career of Outman, who had one year of eligibility remaining.

Outman joined the Billikens after one season at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park. He started 21 games in his SLU career, posting five victories and a 5.77 ERA. Outman tied for ninth in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season with 64 strikeouts, bringing his two-year SLU total to 109.

Sever, who opted to return to SLU for his senior season after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 21st round last year, leaves the program as the Billikens' career leader with 22 wins. In addition, he is tied for second all time with 269 strikeouts and ranks eighth with a 4.14 career ERA. In 2009, Sever led the Billikens in wins (six), ERA (3.60) and strikeouts (70). He made a career-high eight appearances out of the bullpen and picked up a pair of saves. Sever held opponents to a .255 batting average and surrendered just 19 extra-base hits this season. Against Richmond, he tossed a complete-game shutout to draw Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Week accolades.

Another Billiken in the professional ranks is Ryan Bird (2004-07), SLU's all-time strikeouts leader. After a stint in the St. Louis Cardinals organization this spring, Bird returned to the Southern Illinois Miners, a member of the independent Frontier League. Last season, he was named Frontier League Pitcher of the Year after registering a 13-3 record and a 2.48 ERA.