Erich Uelmen drafted by Cubs in Fourth Round

Cal Poly’s 2017 Friday night starter joined a teammate on the list of players who have been drafted in the early rounds of the Major League Baseball draft.

Erich Uelmen has been Cal Poly’s most consistent starting pitcher over the past two seasons. By Owen Main

In the fourth round (pick 135 overall), the Cubs drafted a Mustang for the second time in the past three years. In 2015, Chicago drafted Casey Bloomquist in the 17th round. 

After spending the summer of 2016 in the Cape Cod League, Uelmen was penciled-in as Cal Poly’s ace Friday starter in 2017. Cal Poly had the dominant pitching at the top of their staff to do damage this past season, but the Mustangs played poorly during the beginning of the season. After winning the season opener at Cal, Uelmen didn’t win another game for nearly two months. 

About the time conference play rolled around, the team started to come around and Uelmen and the pitching staff finally got some help. Cal Poly finished in second place during the Big West regular season (16-8), but still finished the season at 28-28 overall — not enough to make a NCAA regional. 

Uelmen finished the season at 4-8 with 100 strikeouts in 15 starts over 98 1/3 innings. If he signs, he’ll join Bloomquist in the Cubs organization. About a decade ago, former Cal Poly closer Rocky Roquet spent time in the Chicago minor league system as well. 

Uelmen’s selection marks the fourth time in Cal Poly history that the Mustangs have had two players selected in the top four rounds. All four times it’s been under head coach Larry Lee.