Oliver Drake, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 1/13/1987
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts
College: U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis

Oliver Drake, relief pitcher, was a top player in high school and at the U.S. Naval Academy before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. He pitched in the Orioles' minor league system from 2008 through 2014. He started as a relief pitcher in 2008, then moved to the starting rotation from 2009 through 2012, and returned to the bullpen in 2013 and 2014.

Drake pitched in 13 games with the Orioles in 2015. He had a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings. He also pitched in 42 games in the minors.

In 2016, Drake had a 4.00 ERA in 14 games with the Orioles. He spent the rest of the season in the minors.

Drake was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 14, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with 3 wins and 5 losses, 1 save, 62 strikeouts to 25 walks, and a 4.66 ERA in 3 games with the Orioles and 61 games with the Brewers.

The Brewers traded Drake to the Cleveland Indians on May 5, 2018. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels on May 31st. The Toronto Blue Jays claimed him off waivers on July 26th. He was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins on August 3rd. He finished the season with 1 win and 1 loss, 51 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a 5.29 ERA in 11 games with the Brewers, 4 games with the Indians, 8 games with the Angels, 3 games with the Blue Jays, and 19 games with the Twins.

The Tampa Bay Rays claimed Drake off waivers from the Twins on November 1, 2018. He was claimed off waivers again on November 26th by the Blue Jays. He was traded back to the Rays on January 4, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 5 wins and 2 losses, 2 saves, 70 strikeouts to 19 walks, and a 3.21 ERA in 56.0 innings in 50 games. He also pitched 23.2 innings in 19 games in the minors. In the postseason, he pitched 3.0 innings in 2 games, and he gave up 3 hits and 2 runs. He struck out 4 batters and walked 1, and he had a 6.00 ERA.

Drake spent time on the IL in 2020. He pitched just 11.0 innings in 11 games and he had an ERA of 5.73. In the postseason, he pitched 1.0 innings in 1 game and he gave up 1 hit and no runs.

Drake spent the entire 2021 season on the IL with a right flexor tendon strain.

Drake became a free agent on November 5, 2021.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Oliver Drake
MiLB - Oliver Drake
ESPN - Oliver Drake