OMAHA -- North Carolina's Rob Wooten has proven to be a workhorse -- well, as much of a workhorse as a pitcher can be playing a limited NCAA schedule. While it remains to be seen how effective he'll be on a professional level, the folks in Milwaukee are eager to see what they've got in the right-hander, whom they selected in the 13th round of the First-Year Player Draft.

Wooten (6-2) appeared in his 40th game of the season on Sunday night at Rosenblatt Stadium, preserving the Tar Heels' 8-4 victory against Louisiana State and earning his fifth save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.75 in 56 2/3 innings. That follows a 2007 season in which he established a school record while leading the NCAA with 47 appearances. He was 6-1 a year ago while pitching 53 2/3 innings and posting a 2.35 ERA.

While those are all impressive numbers, the ones that really stand out regarding Wooten are the ones he puts up in the games that matter the most. He's now 4-0 with two saves in 24 2/3 innings over 17 postseason appearances. Wooten set an NCAA record last year by appearing in six College World Series games. If he records one more victory this week in Omaha, he'll tie Robert Woodard and Derrick DePriest for the most NCAA victories in school history.

"He puts up good numbers, but he does it a little differently," Milwaukee's vice president and assistant general manager for player personnel Jack Zduriencik said. "He's not a power-arm guy. He gets to 89-90 [mph], but he does a lot of different things with the baseball. He turns it over, he's got a slider, a turnover change, a splitter. He comes at you with different degrees of stuff and when the splitter is working, he's tough.

"There are guys who can do it that way. Keith Foulke wasn't a power guy. You have to be careful, though, because this is one thing that's new to the industry, guys closing in college. These guys closing in college, where are they going to be in the future? Just because you're a college closer doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be one in the big leagues."

Zduriencik said that in all likelihood Wooten will start in the bullpen once he signs, but some of what happens depends on what the staff sees from him when he does report. Zduriencik pointed to Steve Hammond, a sixth-round pick in 2005, as a perfect example of the possibilities that could await Wooten. Hammond was a reliever at Long Beach State, but was quickly converted to a starter once he joined the Brewers. He is currently 7-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 14 starts for Double-A Huntsville.

Wooten certainly has displayed the ability to be versatile. He's demonstrated that he can handle a bigger workload, working at least two innings on 12 occasions this season, including throwing a career-high 4 2/3 innings at Virginia on May 10. Wooten also threw four innings against Florida Atlantic on February 23 to earn a save a day after he threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

While Wooten gave the customary and expected answer that he would do whatever the Brewers ask of him, he did say relieving is what he enjoys.

"The past two years, I've loved being a reliever," he said. "My arm recovers faster than usual and I love what I'm doing. If they want me to start, I'll start. I'm always up for the challenge. But I love what I'm doing now.

"And I love pitching in situations like this [the CWS]. I'd rather be pitching in front of four million people than four people. I prefer that. And can I close? Why not? I've done it here. I don't think they'll use me that way, but I have three pitches that I can throw any time I want."

Wooten certainly does thrive under pressure. He shut down an LSU rally, punctuating his effort with a fist pump and a hoot. He can't wait to take that enthusiasm to the next level, but for now he's simply worried about helping UNC get back to the championship series for a third consecutive year.

After that, he'll begin contemplating in earnest what the Brewers have in store for him.

"If a guy might be able to pitch in the late innings, it's a good thing," Zduriencik said. "But in this particular case, you can't say he's going to be a closer in the big leagues. I do think he's going to be a guy who can do something. No one denies his arm strength and his stuff. "But closing a Major League game has more to do with than just stuff. Everything we know about him points to the fact that he's a solid guy. He's a guy that seems to have adapted to that role. He's got real good numbers and has thrown multiple innings."

It's the sure sign of a workhorse.