Tigers Sign First-Round Pick

Fresno State right-hander Jeff Weaver, the 14th overall pick of the 1998 first-year player draft, became the latest first-round selection to come to terms when he signed Friday with the Detroit Tigers.

Weaver earned his third straight first team All-Western Athletic Conference nod as a junior this season when he went 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA and nine complete games. In 123 2/3 innings, he struck out 156 and walked 37.

The 21-year-old, who led the nation with 181 strikeouts in 1997, ended his collegiate career with a 33-15 record, 3.12 ERA and Fresno State-record 477 strikeouts. He was selected in the second round of last year's draft by the Chicago White Sox, but opted to return to school.

Weaver has been assigned to Jamestown of the New York-Penn League.

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