Bleeker, Carver sign professional contracts

FAYETTEVILLE – Former Arkansas outfielder Derrick Bleeker and infielder Tim Carver have recently signed professional contracts.

Bleeker was a 37th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, while Carver was selected in the 19th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Carver made his professional debut on Friday night for Lakewood, the Phillies’ single-A affiliate. Carver went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks in his first game.

A native of Longmont, Colo., Bleeker played in 62 games, including 42 starts, during the 2012 season and hit .250 with six homers and 23 RBI. Bleeker finished second on the team with a .463 slugging percentage. In conference games, Bleeker batted .292 with a team-high tying four round trippers and 16 RBI. Bleeker had 13 multi-hit games, which was the fifth-highest total on the team.

In his two seasons with the Razorbacks, Bleeker appeared in 74 games, including 44 starts, and hit .251 with seven homers and 26 RBI.

A product of Fayetteville, Carver enjoyed his best offensive season as a Razorback in 2012. Carver finished second on the team with a .299 batting average with two homers and 30 RBI. One of 25 players named to the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award, Carver tied for the team lead with 20 multi-hit games and had 15 stolen bases, which ranked second on the team.

Carver played in 219 games and made 204 starts in his collegiate career. He had a .266 career batting average with seven homers, 89 RBI and 49 stolen bases.