EUGENE -- Oregon freshman Matt Krook has been shocked twice within the last year.

The second time, it happened about a month into his tenure at Oregon. The left-handed pitcher with a mid-90s fastball and punch-out slider was amazed at how well he fit in on the Eugene campus.

The first time, the shock ended up sending him to Oregon.

Last summer, Krook was ready to become a member of the Miami Marlins organization. Drafted 35th overall in the June Major League Baseball draft, the St. Ignatius College Prepatory (Calif.) product had all but assured himself a big payday and a strong shot at the majors.

The 18-year-old reportedly negotiated a contract with the Marlins, likely in the neighborhood of $1.5 million. For comparison's sake, 36th overall draft pick Aaron Blair, a member of the Hillsboro Hops last summer, signed with the Diamondbacks for $1.435 million.

But when Krook showed up for his physical, MRI results revealed a slight tear in his throwing shoulder.

"I don't feel injured at all. I've never felt any pain in my arm" said Krook, hiding out from a slight drizzle in the home dugout of PK Park, wearing a Ducks hat. "It was a shock to me when I heard what they found."

The tear triggered a series of events that led Krook to Eugene. The Marlins pulled their initial offer and came back with $650,000, MLB Trade Rumors reported.

Krook turned down that offer, opting to go the college route.

Oregon players couldn't have been happier.

"I'm kind of glad the draft didn't work out for him so we could have him, selfishly," Oregon third baseman Scott Heineman said.

Heineman said he's faced Krook about eight times in practice and describes his ability as "disgusting" and "filthy." The shoulder tear hasn't seemed to affect Krook’s throwing, Heineman said, and he has little doubt Krook's stay in Eugene will further polish a potential pro career.

"His stuff is big league ready already," Heineman said. "His slider is comparable to Jimmie Sherfy's slider from the left side. When a lefty is bringing 94, 95 with that kind of slider, it's tantalizing. … In three years he'll be picked even higher. It's no big worry for him."

Krook's emergence in the Oregon pitching staff couldn't have come at a better time for the Ducks. Coach George Horton has him penciled into the rotation for this weekend's season-opening series at Hawaii and will rely on the freshman to help carry the load following Cole Irvin's season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Horton said "the sky is the limit for Krook," and his teammates agree.

This weekend, Krook is going to look to prove them right. With last summer's injury and Irvin's surgery fresh on his mind, he said he's got to make the most of every opportunity.

"It's a scary thought and every time you go out there to pitch you got to pitch like it's the last time," Krook said. "As a pitcher, you never know how many bullets you got."

-- Tyson Alger | @tysonalger