Delaware
Baseball Alumnus Mike Koplove Signs 2
Million Dollar Deal With
Diamondbacks
Phoenix,
AZ (January 28, 2005)-- Mike Koplove, a
University of Delaware graduate in 1998,
signed a two year contract worth two
million dollars with the Arizona
Diamondbacks as a relief pitcher for the
upcoming 2005 Major League Baseball
season.
Koplove
was 4-4 in 2004 with a 4.05 ERA and he
appeared in 76 games. He also picked up
the first two saves of his career in 2004
on his first eight chances.
"I'm
really excited," he said. "I wanted a
two-year deal from the get-go and both
sides worked at it and we got it done. I'm
really happy with it. I really like it out
there in Arizona, it's where I've been my
whole career."
Koplove,
drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 29th
round in 1998, threw for the Blue Hens
during that season producing a 4.60 ERA
and a 5-1 record leading one of Delaware's
most legendary baseball teams. He appeared
in nine games, starting in eight for a
total of 43 innings. He struck out 42
batters and was on the Blue Hen pitching
staff with Matt Phillips 1998 draftee by
the Boston Red Sox in the 14th
round.
The
Philadelphia native was used mainly as a
setup man prior to the 2001 season when he
reached the Diamondbacks 40-man roster and
never looked back.
Koplove
submitted a $970,000 figure for
arbitration and the club countered with
$750,000. Last year he made $330,000. In
his major league career he has gone 13-6
overall and posted a 3.44 ERA in 171
appearances.
"We
certainly know what we have in Mike," said
Joe Garagiola the Diamondbacks General
Manager.
"It's
nice to have the security," Koplove said.
"Now I can just focus on
pitching."
Arizona
ended the 2004 season 51-111 and 21-55 in
the National League West Division. The
Diamondbacks begin their spring schedule
on March 3, against the Chicago White
Sox.
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