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Jared Oliva

Jared Cole Oliva (born November 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

Oliva attended Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, California. As a senior, he hit .325 with 11 stolen bases.[1] Undrafted in the 2013 MLB draft, he enrolled at the University of Arizona where he walked on to the Wildcats baseball team.[2]

Oliva redshirted his freshman year at Arizona in 2014. In 2015, as a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 43 games in which he hit .272 with one home run and twenty RBIs.[3] That summer, he played in the Northwoods League for the Wisconsin Woodchucks.[4] As a redshirt sophomore in 2016, he batted .239 with four home runs, 34 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases over seventy games. That summer, he returned to play for the Woodchucks, batting .272 with 2 home runs in 30 games.[5] In 2017, Oliva slashed .321/.385/.498 with four home runs and 54 RBIs in 59 games,[6][7] earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors and a spot on the All-Pac-12 All-Defensive Team after posting a .985 fielding percentage.[8]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Oliva in the seventh round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[9][10] He signed for $200,000 and made his professional debut with the West Virginia Black Bears.[11][12][13] Over 56 games, he hit .266 with 17 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Oliva spent the 2018 season with the Bradenton Marauders, slashing .275/.354/.424 with nine home runs, 47 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases in 108 games.[14][15] In 2019, he played with the Altoona Curve, batting .277/.352/.398 with six home runs, 42 RBI, and 36 stolen bases over 123 games.[16][17][18][19] After the season, he was assigned to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, earning Fall All-Star honors.[20]

On September 21, 2020, Oliva was selected to the 40-man and active rosters.[21] He made his major league debut that day against the Chicago Cubs. He recorded his first hit, a single, on September 24 versus Alec Mills of the Cubs.[22]

Oliva spent a majority of the 2021 season in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, batting .249 with two home runs and 23 RBI over 64 games.[23] He received 40 at bats with the Pirates with whom he hit .175 with two RBI and two doubles.[24]

On March 31, 2022, Oliva was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Josh VanMeter.[25] Oliva spent the entirety of the 2022 campaign with Indianapolis, playing in 99 games and hitting .267/.324/.430 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.[26]

Los Angeles Angels

On December 7, 2022, Oliva was claimed by the Los Angeles Angels in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[27] He spent the 2023 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, playing in 92 games and hitting .261/.348/.423 with 8 home runs, 37 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Oliva elected free agency following the season on November 6.[28]

Seattle Mariners

On February 22, 2024, Oliva signed with the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League.[29]

On March 22, 2024, Oliva signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[30] In 69 games for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, he slashed .294/.378/.463 with seven home runs, 40 RBI, and 37 stolen bases. Oliva elected free agency following the season on November 4.[31]

Milwaukee Brewers

On November 25, 2024, Oliva signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[32] He started the 2025 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.[33]

References

  1. ^ "College World Series". Inside SCV Magazine.
  2. ^ Lev, Michael (June 13, 2017). "Arizona Wildcats' Jared Oliva goes from walk-on to 7th-round pick of Pittsburgh Pirates". Arizona Daily Star.
  3. ^ "College World Series: Arizona's Jared Oliva has something to prove | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  4. ^ Buckley, Nick (June 23, 2015). "Bombers chew up 'Chucks". Battle Creek Enquirer.
  5. ^ "Jared Oliva - Baseball". University of Arizona Athletics. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  6. ^ "Pirates summary for second day of the 2017 Draft". MLB.com.
  7. ^ "SCV boasts two of MLB Draft's top prospects and host of others". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. June 10, 2017.
  8. ^ McCullough, Drew (June 2, 2017). "All-Pac-12 first team, Pac-12 all-defensive team: Jared Oliva". Arizona Daily Star.
  9. ^ Berry, Adam (June 14, 2017). "Oliva defies odds to become Pirates Draft pick". MLB.com.
  10. ^ "Two SCV products picked on MLB Draft's 2nd day". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. June 13, 2017.
  11. ^ "5 from SCV sign with pro baseball teams". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. June 22, 2017.
  12. ^ Bartel, Jason (June 20, 2017). "Jared Oliva signs contract with Pittsburgh Pirates". Arizona Desert Swarm.
  13. ^ Hertzel, Bob (June 21, 2017). "Nine Pirates draftees join Black Bears". Times West Virginian.
  14. ^ "FSL notes: Oliva emerging with Marauders". MiLB.com.
  15. ^ Dopirak, Dustin (October 9, 2018). "Jared Oliva Has Both The Skills And The Will". Baseball America.
  16. ^ "Curve, Pirates finalize 2019 Opening Day roster". MiLB.com.
  17. ^ "Toolshed: Pirates' Oliva turns the page". MiLB.com.
  18. ^ Prugar, Jarrod (June 11, 2019). "Altoona Watch: Oliva upbeat despite struggle". DK Pittsburgh Sports.
  19. ^ "Pirates minor league report: Travis Swaggerty, Jared Oliva have big weeks". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  20. ^ "How Pirates prospect Jared Oliva became an Arizona Fall League All-Star". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  21. ^ "Pirates Select Jared Oliva". MLB Trade Rumors. September 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "Jared Oliva starts, gets first MLB hits with Pirates". AZ Desert Swarm. September 24, 2020.
  23. ^ Biertempfel, Rob. "What will the Pirates do next in right field after releasing Gregory Polanco?". The Athletic.
  24. ^ Gorman, Kevin (November 19, 2021). "Pirates A to Z: Jared Oliva endured injury but remained optimistic about his future in outfield". triblive.com.
  25. ^ "Pirates trade with Arizona for infielder Josh VanMeter; designate outfielder Jared Oliva". triblive.com. March 31, 2022.
  26. ^ "Jared Oliva - Stats - Batting". FanGraphs. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "2022 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick". MLB.com.
  28. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 22 de de redo de 2024". milb.com. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. March 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  32. ^ "Brewers' Jared Oliva: Lands with Milwaukee as NRI". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Carpenter, Michael (March 28, 2025). "Nashville Sounds 2025 Opening Day Roster Announced". Maury County Source. Retrieved April 10, 2025.