For Navy pitcher Oliver Drake, timing was everything.
After watching fellow Navy pitcher Mitch Harris denied his opportunity to play professional baseball because the U.S. Naval Academy would not release him from his five-year military commitment, Drake made sure it didn’t happen to him.
Drake, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 43rd round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft in June, withdrew from the academy in Annapolis this week after signing a contract with the Orioles that included a $100,000 signing bonus.
Drake had the option of leaving school early without penalty because midshipmen don’t make their military commitment until the first day of their junior year. Harris had to honor his five-year military commitment because he graduated in May.
Each of the Navy’s 4,300 midshipmen attends the school at no expense. The academy is funded by taxpayers, meaning Drake received two years of free education — worth about $70,000 — and has no military obligation.
“I was in a unique situation,” Drake said. “It was a difficult decision, but in the end, I wanted the chance to follow my dreams.”
Drake’s decision occurred just days before former Army safety Caleb Campbell was denied his chance to play for the NFL’s Detroit Lions because the U.S. Military Academy changed its Alternative Service Option policy. Under the old policy, Campbell would have been allowed to play football if he spent his free time as an Army recruiter in the Detroit area.
“Oliver was at a crossroads in his life,” Navy coach Paul Kostacopoulos said. “He took a huge leap in his progress the last 24 months, and he turned into a legitimate pro prospect. He just came to the realization that he could not pursue baseball any farther if he stayed at the Naval Academy.”
The Orioles were under no obligation to sign Drake, because it’s common for teams to offer their low-round picks deals for very little money. But Drake’s case was different.
Orioles officials followed the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder’s progress this summer. The right-hander pitched for Youse’s Maryland Orioles, which is coached by Oriole scout Dean Albany, who specializes in finding the state’s best players.
“Oliver has a great arm and is coming along with his slider,” Albany said. “He should also make an easy transition to professional baseball after dealing with the disciplined approach needed to make it at Navy.”
This spring, Drake, a native of Gardner, Mass., went 6-3 and led the Patriot League with 78 strikeouts against just 22 walks in 80 1/3 innings. He throws between 89 and 93 mph and has a fastball, changeup and slider. He was Navy’s No. 2 pitcher behind Harris, who was drafted in the 13th round by the St. Louis Cardinals.
But as Harris begins his military commitment stationed aboard the USS Ponce based in Norfolk, Va., Drake is in Virginia, playing for the Bluefield Orioles, the Orioles’ rookie league team. If Drake excels, he could be promoted to Single-A Aberdeen by the end of the summer.
Drake said Harris’ situation played a factor in his decision, but the deal was sealed when the Orioles agreed to pay for five semesters of college so the quantitative economics major can complete his degree.
“Education is very important to me and my family,” Drake said. “I would have loved to be able to serve my country and play baseball, but that just wasn’t an option now.”
