Wyatt Olds

A reliever as a freshman and a swingman for the Sooners in 2020, Olds was expected to be Oklahoma’s Friday starter in 2021. But he couldn’t hold onto that job. He gave up six runs or more in three of his first seven starts and didn’t lower his ERA under 7.00 until mid April. He eventually moved back to the bullpen. Olds’ lower arm slot can make it hard for hitters to pick up the ball, and he misses bats, but he also misses the strike zone. He has a long arm action that he has struggled to repeat consistently, especially in longer stints. His fastball picked up a tick after his move to the bullpen, as he went from sitting 91-94 mph to sitting 93-96 and touching 97. Evaluators already saw Olds as a likely reliever in pro ball and his 2021 season only further confirmed that suspicion. As a reliever, Olds can rely on his fastball/slider pairing, both of which play as above-average offerings in shorter stints. His slider is a power pitch (85-88 mph) with some tilt. As a reliever, he doesn’t have to use his well below-average changeup that he threw as a starter.