Former UConn closer Jacob Wallace climbing ranks with Colorado Rockies

UConn's Jacob Wallace was the first college player from New England drafted in 2019. (Stephen Slade/UConn Athletics)

At this time last year, Jacob Wallace capped off a dream season at UConn by earning the 100th overall selection in the MLB Draft. Selected by the Colorado Rockies, Wallace signed for exactly slot value of $581,600.

Wallace was the second New Englander selected in the MLB Draft after jumping up draft boards last spring. The Methuen, Mass., native was one of college baseball’s top relief pitchers just 2 ½ years after joining the UConn baseball team as a virtual walk-on. In his first season as UConn’s closer, he had 16 saves with a 0.64 ERA.

Pitching in Single-A with the Boise Hawks last summer, he allowed runs in only two of 22 appearances.

Wallace recently joined NEBJ for a question-and-answer session.