Mules Baseball had two more pitchers from the 2016 team sign professional contracts with Major League Baseball franchises and another UCM alum has signed as well. Tyler House was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays, while Ethan Westphal signed with the Colorado Rockies. Another former Mule pitcher, Josh Outman, also signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
House was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA pick in both of his seasons at UCM. The Richton Park, Ill. native was 7-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 16 starts. He struck out 74 batters in 86 innings pitched and held the opposition to a .243 batting average. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Rays Rookie League team. He has made one appearance, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Westphal was a First Team All-Region and All-MIAA selection in his lone season at UCM after leading the Mules and the MIAA with 11 wins. He was 11-2 with an MIAA-leading 2.60 ERA in 15 total appearances and 14 starts. His 103 strikeouts in 100.1 innings were second best in the MIAA and are tied for the fourth most in a single-season in UCM history. The Winterset, Iowa native is expected to be assigned to the Grand Juction (Colo.) Rockies Rookie League club.
Outman, who was a Third Team All-American for the Mules in 2005, was signed to a minor league deal with the Pirates and was assigned to their Triple-A club in Indianapolis. He’s made one appearance so far, registering one strikeout in three innings of work. The St. Louis, Mo. product was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th round of the 2005 amateur draft. He has compiled a 16-11 career mark with a 4.43 earned run average in 161 career major league games. He’s played for four teams over six MLB seasons.
They join Grant Gavin and Lucas Williams, who were drafted by Kansas City and Houston, respectively, to bring the current number of Mules in the minor leagues to five. Gavin is 1-0 with one save in four relief appearances for the Arizona League Royals Rookie club. He’s allowed two unearned runs on six hits over 13 innings of work, while striking out nine and holding opponents to a .130 batting average.
Williams has recorded one save, while striking out five over 7.2 innings of work in four relief appearances for the Greenville Astros Rookie League team.
With the four players from the 2016 team now playing affiliated baseball, it brings the total number of Mules to be drafted or sign free agent contracts to 74.
