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Four UConn Huskies were drafted in the 2017 MLB First Year Player Draft, all of which decided to sign contracts with their professional teams. Shortly after signing their contracts, all four have begun their life as professional ballplayers.
Former Husky closer John Russell made his professional debut on July 3 and was the last of the four to officially begin their professional careers.
Wills Montgomerie, the right-handed pitcher and sixth-round by the Los Angeles Dodgers is playing for the AZL Dodgers in the Arizona League. In his only appeaeance in pro ball, Montgomerie struck out the side in one inning of work against the AZL Diamondbacks. According to fellow draftee Willy Yahn, it was an immaculate inning- nine strikes on nine pitches.
On nine pitches!!! #notevenweird #stud https://t.co/psBBgNKkzl
— Willy Yahn (@WillyYahn) July 3, 2017
His fellow right-hander in Russell was the next to go, in the 16th round to the San Francisco Dodgers. In his July 3 debut in the Northwest League for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Russell walked three batters and struck out one while allowing an earned run.
Yahn was picked in the 25th round by the Baltimore Orioles and has been tearing the cover off the the ball for the GCL Orioles in the Gulf Coast League. He is hitting 10-for-27 for a .370 batting average as part of a .370 AVG/.485 OBP/.444 SLG slash line. He is 2-for-2 stealing bases and has five RBI while scoring four runs.
Doug Domnarski was taken by the Miami Marlins in the 27th round and was assigned to their Gulf Coast League team. He pitched an inning on July 1, allowing only a hit and a walk.