UConn closer Caleb Wurster selected in the 15th round of MLB Draft by Miami Marlins

Over the past two seasons, Caleb Wurster has followed in the footsteps of Jacob Wallace, PJ Poulin, John Russell and Pat Ruotolo as UConn’s lights-out closer. Now, Wurster will join those four players in the professional ranks as a 15th round pick (449th overall) of the Miami Marlins in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Wurster is the fourth Husky taken in this year’s draft, joining Ben Casparius (fifth round, Los Angeles Dodgers), Pat Winkel (ninth round, Minnesota Twins) and Kyler Fedko (12th round, Minnesota Twins).

In 2021, Wurster appeared in a team-high 25 games, where he owned a 2.41 ERA, held opponents to a .207 average, earned nine saves and struck out 52 in 41.0 innings. With his low arm slot, Wurster has a relief-only profile and mostly uses deception to get hitters out. His fastball sits between 89-92 mph to go with a slider and changeup. The lefty has also been working to add a cutter to his pitch mix.

Wurster is the fourth player in the Jim Penders Era to be selected by the Marlins, joining pitcher Doug Domnarski (27th round, 2017), pitcher Greg Nappo (18th round, 2011), pitcher Dan Mahoney (fourth round, 2009) and outfielder Harold Brantley Jr. (30th round, 2009).