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. 

On Wednesday, eight Cal Poly baseball players earned All-Big West honors for the 2017 season. 

Sophomores Alex McKenna (outfielder), Spencer Howard (pitcher), and Kyle Marinconz (second baseman) were all named to the conference’s first team. 

Spencer Howard was one of eight Cal Poly Mustangs who made the all-Big West team in 2017. By Owen Main

Mustangs named to the second team were first baseman Michael Sanderson, catcher Nick Meyer, infielder Bradlee Beesley, pitcher Erich Uelmen, and pitcher Michael Clark. 

The Mustangs finished the season in sole possession of second place in the Big West Conference, but failed to make a regional due to subpar non-conference play.

Howard, Uelmen, and Marinconz are all draft-eligible underclassmen and Sanderson, who was injured making a diving catch in the first inning of his final game completed his senior season.

Long Beach State dominated conference play and the individual non-conference postseason awards. The Dirtbags will host the toughest regional in the NCAA tournament starting this weekend. 

Cal Poly’s opener got rained-out tonight, so I thought I’d finally post something of a Cal Poly baseball preview for this season. 

Last season wasn’t a great year for Cal Poly baseball. Holding a 10-2 record early in the season, the Mustangs lost 9 of 11 games midway through the conference season and fell out of contention for both the Big West title and a regional bid. They finished the season a disappointing 32-25 (12-12 in the Big West). Maybe it says something about Larry Lee’s program that they can have a convincingly winning record in a season that is deemed subpar. 

Erich Uelmen spent the summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League and could contend to be the best pitcher in the Big West this season. By Owen Main

There were many positive signs in 2016 though that could carry into 2017. For starters, the entire starting pitching staff is back, including burgeoning ace Erich Uelmen, Jarred Zill, and lefty Kyle Smith, who was the Mustangs’ Friday guy last season. There is more competition for the final spot in the rotation than there has been in a long time and Cal Poly will decide whether to use Spencer Howard in a weekday starting role or as a relief ace. On a preseason Fansmanship podcast, Larry Lee talked about the emergence of Bobby Ay and Michael Clark. Don’t forget about Cameron Schneider, Austin Dondanville, Thomas Triantos, and Oregon State transfer Trent Shelton, among others. Larry Lee doesn’t have a history of having up to a half-dozen pitchers that he really trusts, but this year’s team may have that many pitchers that Lee and pitching coach Chal Fanning trust.

As a whole, Cal Poly figures to have more pitching depth probably than at any time since I’ve covered the team. 

Can they pick it?

Cal Poly’s big, glaring weakness last season was on defense. The Mustangs made 84 big errors in 2016, the most in a while for a Larry Lee team. Many of them were on the left side of the infield, where freshman Bradlee Beasley will be a defensive upgrade over Kyle Marinconz, who did his best out of position at shortstop for much of last year. Marinconz, a sure-handed second-baseman, will return to his natural position. Throw in a more confident Michael Sanderson at third base, and the Mustangs staff hopes to have a team that doesn’t give away as many runs last season. 

What about the bats?

Cal Poly lost the bats of John Schuknecht and Brett Barbier to professional baseball, but another year of development for Nick Meyer, Sanderson, Marinconz, and center fielder Alex McKenna have fans excited. Even incremental improvements in consistency across the board should make a big impact for the returners. The health factor has been thrown around as a big deal this season as well. Josh George figures to be as healthy as he’s been at this level and McKenna battled injuries for much of last season. 

Nick Meyer behind the plate is someone Lee trusted as a freshman to play nearly every inning last season. His control of the strike zone is really really good. 

So there’s a lot of experience in the veterans on this squad. 

Newcomer Elijah Skipps, who started his collegiate career at Arizona brings some needed power to the lineup and freshmen Scott Ogrin and Jack Kuzma figure to have opportunities for impact. Kevin Morgan is a senior leader with a great approach and above average bat control who will be in the lineup a lot. 

Put it together and here’s what fans are looking at for 2017: a chance for things to fall into place. Yes, Uelmen must be as-advertised. Yes, Zill and Smith must take steps forward. Lee probably needs to use his pitching depth like he never has before. Guys have to hit like they’re capable of hitting. They sure have to field better than last season.  

But the pieces are in place. The culture is there. 

Lee told me that anything that isn’t a regional appearance is a disappointment. That’s the reality of where the Cal Poly baseball program is in 2017. Expect them to be there. 

Photos from the Cal Poly Alumni Game below. Find all the 2017 Alumni Game Photos here.

Cal Poly baseball wasn’t looking good. After Friday night’s loss, they were 0-1 in Big West play and it was kind of tough to see a way back. Of the 10 games that finished Friday, only one was errorless. The Mustangs had made 21 errors in that stretch. Then they won in extra innings on Saturday and controlled Sunday’s game and all of a sudden they are 2-1 having taken a series against a perennial top-25 team to start conference play. The conference win puts them at 19-11 through their first 30 games.

Erich Uelmen has been consistent in a weekend starter role for Cal Poly this season. By Owen Main

Uelman moved to Saturday

The first big decision Larry Lee made was to start Erich Uelmen on Saturday instead of his customary Sunday game. Saturday’s game was an afternoon one due to rain, so Uelmen got to pitch in a day game and he was spectacular, giving up just two hits and no runs in 7 1/3 innings. Along with Justin Calomeni, Uelmen combined for a 10-inning shutout and gave Cal Poly exacty what they needed in a 1-0 victory.

Errorless

On Friday night, an unearned run was the difference. It wasn’t a unique story. Cal Poly’s defense has been struggling to find an identity all season. The Mustangs have gone through at least four shortstops and about the same number of second baseman as unearned runs have piled-up.

Coming into Saturday, they’d made 11 errors in their past five games and hadn’t strung together two errorless games in a row all season. With a single error Friday and two on Sunday, that streak is still alive. Averaging less than an error per game in conference play is probably what the Mustangs need to do moving forward to continue to be competitive in the Big West.

Cal Poly and second baseman Dylan Doherty turned three double plays on Saturday afternoon. By Owen Main

Going into Saturday’s game, they’d allowed 36 unearned runs via 45 errors in just 28 games. To close the weekend, they’ve now committed 47 errors in 30 games, but didn’t give up any unearned runs in the final two games of the series against Cal State Fullerton.

Zill takes advantage

Jarred Zill took advantage of another opportunity to prove he could be the third weekend starter Larry Lee is looking for. The sophomore righty from Laguna Niguel brought his flowing blonde locks to the mound and looked sharp, going 7 1/3 innings. He gave up three hits and just two runs.

In all, Cal Poly pitchers allowed five runs in three games with the deciding run on Friday an unearned one. Each of the three starters gave Cal Poly a good chance to win on the day they pitched.

Morgan solidifying DH

Kevin Morgan seems like he’s solidifying the designated hitter role. The junior left-handed hitter has always been someone with good bat control and he’s putting it to good use.

On the weekend, Morgan went 6-9 at the plate with a walk, two RBIs, and two runs. Cal Poly scored eight runs this weekend against the best pitching staff in the Big West, and Morgan was directly involved with four of them.

If Cal Poly was looking for a full-time designated hitter, they may now have found one in Morgan.

Eager coming back to town

Former pitching coach Thomas Eager will be returning to San Luis Obispo with his new team on Tuesday night as California comes to Baggett Stadium. Game time is 5:00pm.

Photos by Owen Main

For Saturday’s gallery, Click Here 

For Sunday’s gallery, click here.