INDIANA, Pa. – Former IUP first baseman
Ryan Uhl (St. Marys, Pa./St. Marys) will move on to a professional career as he was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2015 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
Uhl becomes the eighth player in program history to be selected in the draft, the first since Paul Bingham was picked by the San Diego Padres in the 20th round of the 2010 Draft. He is now the highest draft pick in the history of the IUP baseball program, selected 215th overall.
Uhl was the first player from a Pennsylvania college selected in the draft and the highest Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) player since Mercyhurst's Dan Altavilla was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round, 141st overall, in 2014.
"Ryan is a very special player and person," IUP coach
Jeff Ditch said. "He has all the tools pro teams look for with his size, power, tools, and high skill level. Ryan came to IUP as a non-drafted high school player and developed himself into a tremendous college hitter. The Mariners are going to love his work ethic and self-motivation.
"We are all very thankful of everything Ryan has brought to our team and I am proud to know he is taking part of IUP with him into professional baseball," Ditch continued. "I speak on behalf of Ryan when I say each and every one of his IUP teammates helped contribute to this great opportunity. We all wish him the best and are eager to follow his pro career."
Uhl put together the finest single season in IUP baseball program history, setting four school season records while leading Division II in four categories - 29 home runs, 0.66 home runs per game, 1.68 runs batted in per game, and a 1.085 slugging percentage.
The first baseman was named one of eight finalists for the Tino Martinez Award - the Division II Player of the Year - and earned first-or-second team All-American honors by three different outlets. Uhl was a unanimous first team All-Atlantic Region selection, a first team All-PSAC West pick, was named the NCBWA Division II National Hitter of the Week twice, and was an IUP Athlete of the Week for four consecutive weeks. He was also named the IUP Men's Athlete of the Year last Thursday.
He broke IUP's career home run record of 24 and extended his career total to 42 by the end of the season, which was third most among active NCAA Division II players.
"Words can't even describe what this day means to me," said Uhl. "I am very thankful for the support everyone at IUP and the Indiana community has shown for me and my teammates. These past four years are very special to me and are certainly something I will cherish forever.
"I can't wait to begin my professional career with the Seattle Mariners," he continued. "I'm excited to start this journey, and I'm proud to be a part of the Mariners organization."
The seven other former IUP standouts selected in the MLB Draft include Bernard Bruns (Red Sox, 15th round, 1966); Richard Dahlgren (Braves, 30th round, 1969); Dennis Miscik (Astros, 22nd round, 1976); Ed Hartman (Pirates, 20th round, 1986); Bruce Yard (Dodgers, 42nd round, 1993); Anthony Zambotti (Athletics, 14th round, 2003); and Bingham (Padres, 20th round, 2010).
Uhl is the 116th player either coached or signed by Ditch to be drafted in 23 years coaching college and summer league baseball, including 13 who have reached the major leagues.
That list is headlined by World Series champions Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox, 8th round, 2001), whom Ditch coached at the University of Cincinnati, Nate Bump (Giants, 1st round, 1998) of the Marlins, who played at Penn State when Ditch was on the Nittany Lions' staff, Cory Gearrin (Braves, 4th round, 2007) at Young Harris College, and David Carpenter (Cardinals, 12th round, 2006 at West Virginia University. It also includes infielders Chase Headley (Padres, 2nd round, 2005), Jason Donald (Phillies, 3rd round, 2006) and Steve Pearce (Pirates, 8th round, 2005), outfielders Justin Maxwell (Nationals, 4th round, 2005), Charlie Blackmon (Rockies, 2nd round, 2008) and Julio Borbon (Rangers 1st round, 2007), catcher Brett Hayes (Marlins, 2nd round, 2005) and pitchers Tony Sipp (Indians, 45th round, 2004) and Jeff Manship (Twins, 14th round, 2006), who all played with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League.For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPBaseball.
