Duke baseball star pitcher Thomas Girard signs with Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles and Duke baseball star pitcher Thomas Girard agreed on a deal as an undrafted free agent.

It’s been well documented how the MLB season and its First Year Player Draft have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but things had to go on as scheduled as the MLB Draft has come and gone.

One Duke player was drafted, ace Bryce Jarvis, who became the highest draft pick in program history, going No. 18 overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Blue Devils also had two commits get drafted out of high school who will not be coming to Durham and instead turn professional in Jordan Walker and Evan Carter.

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As for undrafted players, it becomes tricky because the NCAA is allowing spring sport athletes to remain in school at their current eligibility, but some players are opting to leave Durham to pursue their professional careers.

Matt Mervis has already agreed to a deal with the Chicago Cubs, and now relief pitcher Thomas Girard has come to terms on a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

Girard was named as a Third Team Preseason All-American by D1Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and made a team-high nine appearances prior to the cancellation of the season.

The right-hander tossed thirteen innings this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.46 ERA and four saves on the season.

ALSO READ: Duke ace Bryce Jarvis gets drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks

In his three years pitching at Duke, Girard recorded 13 saves, with a 2-6 record and a 2.74 ERA. He also struck out 90 batters in just 69 innings pitched, in 44 total appearances, all coming in relief.

ALSO READ: Duke standout Matt Mervis signs with Chicago Cubs as UDFA

Due to the new rules and regulations implemented because of the pandemic, undrafted free agents are only allowed to sign with franchises for a maximum of $20,000, compared to the higher value players would receive if there was a normal 40-round draft instead of the five-round version that was just completed.

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