Former GW Pitcher Mike O'Connor '02 Called Up To MLB's New York Mets

May 4, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC- Major League Baseball's New York Mets have purchased the contract of former George Washington pitcher Mike O'Connor ('02) and added him to the active roster on Wednesday afternoon.

This season, O'Connor has a 2-1 record with a 3.31 ERA in 16 and one-third relief innings at Triple-A Buffalo (International League). He has 16 strikeouts and opponents are batting .242 against him.

O'Connor, who played for GW from 1998-2002, is just the fourth Colonials baseball player to play in the majors, joining catcher Steve Korcheck '54 (Washington Senators), Philadelphia Phillies first base coach and former Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo '73 (infielder for the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres) and catcher John Flaherty '90 (recently retired from the New York Yankees) in the select group.

The Ellicott City, MD, native was a seventh-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft by Montreal.

A member of the Colonials' 2002 Atlantic 10 Championship Team, O'Connor still ranks among the program's top performers in categories including appearances (second with 83), saves (tied for third with 10) and strikeouts (14th with 202).

O'Connor owns a 4-9 career record and a lifetime ERA of 5.45 (114.0 IP, 74 ER) in 26 major league games, 21 starts.