UConn’s run of high draft picks began with Olt
NEW BRITAIN — There have been 47 players from UConn selected in the Major League Baseball draft since Jim Penders took over as head coach in 2004. A few more will be added to that list over the next couple of days.
Four of them were firstround picks and seven have been taken within the first five rounds. Five of those players have made it to the major leagues, a number that should also increase over the next year or two.
Mike Olt wasn’t the first of the Jim Penders Era to be drafted. He was, however, Penders’ first first-round pick, taken by the Texas Rangers with the 49th overall selection in 2010 as a compensation pick.
Yes, before there was George Springer or Matt Barnes, Scott Oberg or Anthony Kay, there was Olt.
“I think I just take pride that I went to UConn and was able to help change that program, with all those guys that came in,” the Branford product said. “I think all the credit goes to Coach Penders and those guys, getting me ready and getting me through those growing pains as a young player. It’s amazing to watch them. Every year, they have guys — and they have guys coming in the next couple of years — that are continuing to make it happen. I think that’s all because of the coaching there and what they bring.”
Olt’s professional career hasn’t gone quite as expected, thanks in no small part to some injuries and health issues. He debuted with the Rangers in 2012, hit 12 homers in 225 at-bats for the Cubs in 2014 and remains the only player in baseball history to homer for both Chicago teams (Cubs and White Sox) in the same season.
Yet as the 2019 MLB draft kicked off on Monday night, and while UConn battled Oklahoma State in a winner-take-all bout to advance to the Super Regionals of the College World Series, there was Olt at New Britthink. ain Stadium, hitting seventh as the designated hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks against the New Britain Bees. There were some familiar names surrounding Olt in the lineup, including former Mets Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Matt den Dekker and Olt’s former UConn teammate, L.J. Mazzilli. All have the same mission — to get back into affiliated ball and, hopefully, back into the majors at some point.
“I’m just trying to put myself in the best situation to get picked up,” Olt said. “That’s the No. 1 goal.”
It’s been a tough start for Olt. Released by the Twins near the end of spring training, Olt, 30, worked out with Mazzilli for about a month near his Stamford home before signing with the Ducks just before their season started in late-April. Entering Monday night’s game, Olt was just 6-for-60 on the season, trying to work out some kinks in his swing.
“It happens every year, but this happened early,” he said of his slump. “That’s not how you want to start it. But, once you get some at-bats and get going, you take one swing and you’re locked in.”
Olt hasn’t taken any bad at-bats with him once he leaves the batter’s box, according to Ducks manager Wally Backman.
“He’s been great in the clubhouse,” said Backman, the former Met second baseman who managed the Bees last year. “He’s struggled offensively so far, but he’s playing. We’re trying to get him out of the funk that he’s been in. But he’s the ultimate professional.”
In fact, Backman believes Olt has a career in coaching once he decides to stop playing. But that’s not something Olt has any plans on doing, at least anytime soon.
“I could definitely see myself doing some things down the road, but I would definitely have to take some time, get away from the game, kind of clear my mind,” he said. “Coaching is one of those things that’s a lot harder than people There’s a lot of work, so you have to really make sure the love for the game is still there and all that.”
That love of the game is still there for Olt. And so there he was on Monday night, a Duck playing against Bees. His mom, Beverly, is out of out-patient care and back on the road to recovery after suffering multiple brain aneurysms, including one nearly a year ago that had Olt promising — and delivering — a home run for her while with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. She’s slated to be in the stands at some point over the next few nights at New Britain Stadium.
Some 1,500 miles away on Monday, the UConn baseball team was battling to reach the Super Regionals for the first time since 2011, the year after Olt left. In the Huskies’ bullpen was Jacob Wallace, the closer who had struck out all seven batters he faced to notch the save the night before. Wallace was slated to possibly hear his name called within the first two rounds on Monday night. If not, he’ll certainly hear it called on Tuesday, when rounds 3-10 unfold.
Lefty Mason Feole, shortstop Anthony Prato and possibly a few other UConn players will likely be selected over the next few days. Wallace could become the sixth Husky in the last eight years to be selected within the first two rounds. Mike Olt was the first. “You could always more pressure on yourself, but at the same time, I think once (Wallace) gets settled in, it’s more along the lines of your natural ability taking over,” Olt said. “He’ll find out real quick that it’s the same exact game. Once he does that, you don’t even start thinking about where you’re drafted. You just go out there and do your job. I never really felt pressure going into that situation, but you get a lot of attention from media that a lot of guys aren’t dealing with. Just cherish it, but at the same time, don’t look into it.”