UConn Baseball Closer Jake Wallace Picked in Third Round of MLB Draft

With the 100th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies selected UConn closer Jake Wallace. He is the first Husky picked in this year’s MLB Draft and the highest drafted reliever in program history.

The Rockies are no stranger to taking UConn relievers after selecting PJ Poulin last year in the 11th round and Scott Oberg in the 15th round of the 2012 draft. Oberg is in his fifth major league season while Poulin is with the Asheville Tourists, the club’s low-A affiliate.

Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog

As a third round pick, Wallace will likely sign with the organization. If he pitches well early in his professional career, he could find himself back in Connecticut sooner rather than later with the Hartford Yard Goats — Colorado’s AA affiliate.

Wallace is coming off one of the strongest seasons for a reliever in school history. He appeared in 30 games, throwing 42.0 innings which he allowed just six runs total (three earned) while striking out 68. All season, Wallace only let one inherited run score.

In his penultimate appearance, Wallace faced seven Oklahoma State batters and struck every single one out. In the NCAA Tournament, he retired all 15 batters he faced — 12 via the strikeout.