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After pitcher Anthony Kay was selected by the New York Mets with the 31st overall pick, three more Huskies got the call on the third day of the MLB Draft.
Jack Sundberg, a senior outfielder from Mansfield, Connecticut, was drafted in the 26th round (784th overall) by the Washington Nationals. He appeared in 205 games for UConn, starting 192 of them. He collected an even 200 hits while hitting .267. Sundberg stole 82 bases, hit 24 doubles, six triples and six home runs while drawing 134 walks— good for second in the Husky career record books. He is also sixth all-time in games started (192) and 10th in runs with 151.
Pat Ruotolo, a junior right-handed pitcher from Peabody, Massachusetts, was selected in the 27th round (815th overall) by the San Francisco Giants. In 120.1 innings, Ruotolo had a 5-9 with 20 saves and a 2.62 ERA. He had 148 career strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.25.
He had 12 saves in 2016, which is tied for second among UConn single-season save totals. His sophomore season batting average against (BAA) of .181 is eighth all-time among Husky pitchers and His 20 career saves put him third in program history, three behind the all-time leader Mike James (2001-2004). His career .217 BAA is third-best among Husky pitchers.
Bobby Melley, a senior first baseman from Barnstable, Massachusetts, was picked in the 34th round (1020th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Melley played in 241 games, starting 240 of them. He hit 60 doubles, 16 homes runs and had an on-base percentage of .420. He worked 131 walks and had a .316 batting average.
Melley is tied for 15th in career batting average (.316). His 241 games played pus him second all-time in program history and his 240 games started is first. He had 290 career hits, which is third all-time. He was third all-time in doubles (60) and is tied for fourth in RBI (170). Melley is second in career putouts (2033) and tied for 12th in fielding percentage (.988).
Pat Ruotolo can return to UConn if he does not sign by the July 24 deadline.
A junior college transfer that committed to UConn for 2017, outfielder Matt Hearn, was selected in the 24th round (709th overall) by the Atlanta Braves. He attended Mission College in Santa Clara, California.