Weaver takes mound for new MVP NCAA Baseball

One of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's highlights in an otherwise disappointing season last year was rookie pitcher Jered Weaver. The phenom was brought into the Angels' rotation in late May and proceeded to win his first nine career starts, tying a Major League Baseball record set by Hall of Famer Whitey Ford.

His performance impressed Electronic Arts enough, as the game publisher today announced Weaver as the cover athlete for its upcoming MVP 07 NCAA Baseball--also announced today. The game will be released in February, but unlike its predecessors, it's only taking swings on the PlayStation 2.

EA is adding "Rock and Fire" pitching to the game, a new mechanic to emulate winding up and delivering some blistering heat. ESPN will be heavily featured in the game, with broadcaster Mike Patrick calling the shots, an ESPN ticker delivering real-time scores, and live radio updates.

Weaver, a former star at Long Beach State, ended the season at 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA. He finished fifth in the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year race, which was won by Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. Jered Weaver took his brother Jeff's spot in the Angels rotation, forcing the team to cut the elder sibling. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jeff. The veteran pitcher was then signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and was instrumental in helping the team win the 2006 World Series.