UCSB’s Justin Jacome
For the second time in as many days, a standout UCSB starting pitcher was taken with a high pick in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, as junior left-hander Justin Jacome was selected in the fifth round by the Miami Marlins on Tuesday afternoon.
The 146th overall selection, Jacome becomes the first Gaucho to be drafted by the Marlins in their franchise history.
Coupled with Dillon Tate’s fourth overall selection by the Texas Rangers yesterday, this is the first time in program history that UCSB Baseball has had two players taken in the top five rounds.
A versatile three-year member of UCSB’s rotation, Jacome compiled a 20-11 record and an even 3.00 ERA in his Gaucho career.
The eighth-winningest pitcher in UCSB history, Jacome had his most effective season in 2015, as he went 7-5 with a 2.70 ERA while setting career-bests in strikeouts (96) and innings pitched (116 2/3). After the regular season, he was named to the All-Big West Team for the first time.
He recorded some of his best starts as a Gaucho this past season as well, earning National Pitcher of the Week honors on Mar. 31 after punching out a career-high 12 batters in a complete game four-hitter against Long Beach State and logging eight shutout innings in outings against Oregon (Mar. 1) and UC Davis (May 2).
A front-runner to be selected for a regional Gold Glove award, the southpaw led the entire Big West Conference with eight pickoffs on the season.
In the middle of a four-headed monster of a rotation, Jacome helped the Gauchos record team records in ERA (2.45) and strikeouts (475) while going 40-17-1 and hosting an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history.
Jacome was one of the team’s most valuable players in 2014 as well, when he ascended to the role of Friday starter and authored an 8-2 record. He also set a career-low 2.61 ERA and led the team in strikeouts with 47.
Following his excellent sophomore season, Jacome went on to become an All-Star in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Playing in a wood bat league, he lowered his ERA to 1.55 while winning a league championship with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.
A master at mixing pitches and location, Jacome was a lock to go deep into games as a Gaucho, pitching into the sixth inning or later in 32 of his final 33 starts.
As a freshman in 2013, Jacome went 5-4 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 starts.
The 2015 MLB Draft wraps up tomorrow, as rounds 11-40 will be conducted via conference call starting at 9:00 a.m. PDT.
