Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2000
- Class:
- 1985
A native of Elk Grove, Illinois, Otto was drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school but opted to come to Mizzou where he was a standout pitcher and designated hitter for Coach Gene McArtor from 1983-85. An all-America DH in 1985, Otto earned all-Big Eight Conference and all-District V honors the same season, hitting 16 home runs. He hit .366 for his career. At 6-foot-7, he was an imposing figure on the mound, who rolled up 195 strikeouts in his three-year career. He also co-holds the school record for games started in a season, with 14. Otto was a freshman all-American at Mizzou in 1983 and earned academic all-America honors in both 1984 and 1985. He signed with the Oakland Athletics in 1985 and spent time in the major leagues with the A’s in 1988-89-90. Otto was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1990 and moved into their starting rotation in 1991. He spent 1992 with the Indians as a starter, and then signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1993, for whom he pitched in middle relief, and as an extra starter. After retiring from baseball in 1994, he got into broadcasting, filling in for Ron Santo on WGN radio broadcasts of the Chicago Cubs, and worked alongside Chip Caray on Fox Sports Net in 2001-2002. He has also worked for Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
