The MLB Draft is in full swing and the next 48 hours will go a long way in shaping what the Gamecocks' 2022 roster will look like.
South Carolina already had one 2021 signee plucked Sunday night in the first round of the draft and the Gamecocks will try to survive the remaining 19 rounds over the next two days while trying to get the bulk of their recruiting class together.
As the draft continues Monday and Tuesday afternoons, keep track of all the goings on during the draft below.
Cooper Kinney, 2B/3B
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Round, pick number: 1 (Competitive Balance), 34 overall
Slot value: $2,148,100
Year: High school senior
2021 stats: .480/.539/.990, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 12 BB, 12 SO, 115 PA
The skinny: Kinney entered draft week as the Gamecocks' highest-rated incoming player and it was not a shock to see him as the first player with South Carolina ties go off the board. Kinney's stock skyrocketed this spring as a hit-first, lefty batting infielder who could settle at either second or third base professionally.
He's told the Tampa Bay Times he is planning on signing professionally and bypassing college baseball, meaning the Gamecocks are losing what would be a day one starter in the infield.
Brett Kerry, RHP
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Round, pick number: 5, 141
Slot value: $390,400.
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 5-1, 2.15 ERA, 54.1 innings, 84 strikeouts, 10 walks
The skinny: Kerry is the first South Carolina pitcher taken, having been the Gamecocks' best arm all year. He'll sign a professional deal and leave a big void in South Carolina's pitching rotation after being one of the best arms statistically in recent years.
Brady Allen, OF
Team: Miami Marlins
Round, pick number: 5, 149
Slot value: $360,800
Year: Junior
2021 stats: .276/.375/.516, 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 34 walks, 50 strikeouts
The skinny: Allen was the team's offensive leader and hit at the top of the order. He finished second on the team in average and made the offense tick; when he struggled the offense tended to as well. He'll have to cut down on strikeouts, but Allen hit over .400 with runners in scoring position.
Thomas Farr, RHP
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, pick number: 5, 150
Slot value: $357,100
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 3-7, 3.87 ERA, 83.2 innings, 90 strikeouts, 38 walks
The skinny: Farr was one of the Gamecocks' frontline guys, starting the year as the No. 1 in the rotation. Walks were part of some struggles for him but he didn't get the run support needed in most of his starts, but has an elite fastball and can have a good professional career as his breaking ball develops.
Hunter Parks, RHP
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, pick number: 8, 240
Slot value: $172,100
Year: Junior college
2021 stats: 6-0, 1.90 ERA, 42.2 innings, 58 strikeouts, 14 walks
The skinny: Parks was the highest-rated junior college signee and should likely sign a professional deal.
Brannon Jordan, RHP
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Round, pick number: 9, 267
Slot value: $154,900
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 5-6, 4.58 ERA, 72.2 innings, 98 strikeouts, 37 walks
The skinny: Jordan bounced from Saturday to Friday starter this year. He had a solid season in his first full year at South Carolina but struggled some with walks and will need to continue adding weight at the professional level to maintain velocity in his fastball.
Andrew Peters, RHP
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Round, pick number: 10, 291
Slot value: $147,200
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 4-1, 3.62 ERA, 32.1 innings, 45 strikeouts, 13 walks
The skinny: Peters was one of the Gamecocks' best bullpen pieces last season, turning into a long reliever in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery at South Carolina. His fastball was up to 96 miles per hour this year and he'll secondary stuff will need to continue developing after being sharp for the early part of this season.
Wes Clarke, 1B
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Round, pick number: 10, 297
Slot value: $145,500
Year: Junior
2021 stats: .271/.428/.663, 23 homers, 55 RBI, 73 strikeouts, 50 walks
The skinny: Clarke had one of the best power hitting seasons in South Carolina history, mashing 23 bombs this year and driving in 55 runs. He did strike out a lot but was one of the more feared hitters in the Gamecocks' lineup.
Andrew Baker, RHP
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Round, pick number: 11, 325
Slot value: N/A
Year: Junior college
2021 stats: 7-2 (15 appearances), 3.45 ERA, 57.1 IP, 92 strikeouts, 34 walks
The skinny: Baker could potentially sign a professional deal after going in the 11th round. The potential starter or key bullpen piece in the Gamecocks' recruiting class is currently up in the Cape Cod League pitching.
Daniel Lloyd, RHP
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Round, pick number: 14, 407
Slot value: N/A
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 23 appearances, 3.07 ERA, 41 innings, 42 strikeouts, 16 walks
The skinny: Lloyd was one of the Gamecocks' best bullpen arms last season, holding teams to a .206 batting average against. He saved one of his better weekends for the end of the year in two games against Virginia and will likely profile as a relief pitcher in professional baseball.
Julian Bosnic, LHP
Team: San Fransisco Giants
Round, pick number: 16, 476
Slot value: N/A
Year: Junior
2021 stats: 4-2 (22 appearances), 2.84 ERA, 50.2 innings, 78 strikeouts, 25 walks
The skinny: Bosnic was the Gamecocks' Sunday starter earlier in the year before moving and flourishing in the bullpen. He could potentially sign or come back and be a piece in the team's starting rotation all year.
Current players, signees remaining in Baseball America's top 500 (* denotes signee): SS/RHP Michael Braswell, No. 112; LHP Julian Bosnic, No. 193; C/1B Wes Clarke, No. 247; OF Thad Ector*, No. 326;; 1B/3B, Vytas Valincius*, No. 486
MLB Draft schedule
Monday: Rounds 2-10, 1 p.m. (MLB.com)
Tuesday: Rounds 11-20, Noon (MLB.com)
