Cal Poly pitcher selected by Seattle Mariners in MLB draft
Cal Poly pitcher Taylor Dollard was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft on Thursday, after an undefeated win-loss record in his collegiate career.
The Mustang pitcher is the sixth fifth-round pick in Cal Poly’s history, continuing the university’s streak of having at least one player selected in the MLB draft since 1999.
Dollard, a Crespi Carmelite High School (Encino) graduate, was 9-0 in his campaign at Cal Poly in roles as a reliever and starter, with a 2.43 earned run average and seven saves. He struck out 121 batters in 111.3 innings.
Another former Mustang — outfielder Mitch Haniger — has played for the Mariners since 2017. Haniger was drafted 38th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012 as a supplemental first-round pick.
Dollard, a 6-foot-2 right-hander, was the 137th pick in the draft.
Dollard’s professional career begins after he spent his two seasons at Cal Poly in a relief role before moving into the top starter slot this spring, an NCAA season that ended prematurely in March due to coronavirus impacts.
This year, Dollard posted a 1-0 record in four starts with a 1.67 earned run average, tallying 36 strikeouts over 27 innings Three of his starts were no-decisions.
Getting the good news
The scout who delivered the news said Dollard was excited about his selection, according to a Cal Poly news release.
“I call every player on draft day as soon as we take them and he was probably the most excited,” Scott Hunter, the Mariners’ director of scouting, said in a statement. “(Dollard) even apologized for his language because he was so excited. He said, ‘When can I go? When can I start working?’”
In 2019, mlb.com valued the signing bonus of the 137th pick at $406,000. The signing deadline this summer for drafted players is Aug. 1.
Dollard showcased his speed and command of pitches this year, striking out a career-high 12 batters in seven innings against BYU; fanning nine in seven innings against No. 5 Michigan; and notching six strikeouts in six innings in Cal Poly’s 2-1 win over Baylor.
That added to a strong performance in the Cape Cod summer league, known for showcasing talented amateur players who often go on to professional careers.
“We’re going to send him out as a starter,” said Hunter. “It was really amazing what he did in the Cape Cod League last year. He pitched two or three innings, hit 92 and 93 miles per hour and continued to strike everybody out. It was amazing to see his strikeout-to-walk rate.”
Hunter added Dollard’s summer league coach, Scott Pickler of Yarmouth-Dennis, said that the Cal Poly pitcher reminded him of Shane Bieber, a UCSB graduate who’s now an all-star with the Cleveland Indians.
“I’m not putting that kind of pressure on him to do that, but he’s that kind of guy,” Hunter said in the release.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 11:16 AM with the headline "Cal Poly pitcher selected by Seattle Mariners in MLB draft."
%20Cropped.jpg)