Astin signs with Brewers

Barrett Astin agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

— Arkansas pitcher Barrett Astin signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The Brewers drafted Astin with the 90th overall pick (third round) of the 2013 MLB draft and agreed to a deal with him Monday. Astin was the third Arkansas pitcher selected in the draft.

Astin will begin his pro career with the Brewers' rookie-league team in Helena, Mont.

"I'm happy to be a Brewer," Astin said. "It was a cool process to be able to go through the draft and stuff. I enjoyed the last few years at the University of Arkansas and I learned a lot and matured a lot. We got a deal done with the Brewers and I'm leaving Thursday to get up there and get to what's next.

"I thought for a minute that I might want some down time, but we've been off for about two weeks now, since we lost the regional, and I've been itching to get back out there and start playing again."

In Astin's three years with the Razorbacks, he pitched both as a reliever, recording the school's fourth-most single-season saves (11) as a closer in 2012, and a starter.

The Forrest City native pitched almost exclusively as a starter for the Razorbacks last season, starting in 14 of his 18 appearances and posting a career-low 1.79 ERA and a 4-4 record. Astin struck out 74 batters in 90 2/3 innings.