Two UConn Baseball Players Taken on Day Three of MLB Draft

After UConn baseball’s Tim Cate was drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft on Monday night, no Huskies were selected on Day Two. However, that changed on Wednesday as two current players were selected.

Closer P.J. Poulin was the first Husky off the board on Wednesday after being selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round (No. 336 overall). He was UConn’s best reliever this past season, notching a 3.26 ERA in 31 appearances while setting the school record for saves in a season with 16. In an elimination game against Coastal Carolina, Poulin started his only game of the season and gave up just two runs in 6.0 innings while striking out six.

If he signs, Poulin would be the second former Husky in the Rockies organization, joining reliever Scott Oberg, who was selected in the 15th round of the 2012 draft.

Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog

Just one round later, catcher Zac Susi was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 356th overall pick (12th round). The Huskies’ backstop was one of the team’s best hitters with a .335 batting average in 56 games. He was also a stalwart behind the plate, catching all but one postseason game despite playing in the heat and humidity of Clearwater, Florida and Conway, South Carolina.

Susi announced on his Instagram on Wednesday night that he will forgo his senior year and sign with the Pirates. The Southington, Connecticut native looks to become the fifth player from his hometown to reach the majors, joining Rob Dibble, Carl Pavano, Chris Denorfia and Sal Romano.

Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog

UConn also had a pair of commits drafted. Waterford, Connecticut pitcher Mike Burrows was picked in the 11th round (324th overall) by the Pirates while Amity High School catcher Pat Winkel — brother of current Huskies’ first baseman Chris Winkel — was a 31st-round selection of the New York Yankees. However, both players are expected to come to Storrs in the fall.