SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS BASEBALL
The MLB Draft is off and humming, and Gamecock Central has you covered from head to toe on the current and future Gamecocks that could hear their names called over the next three days and 40 rounds.
This is the GamecockCentral hub for all draft activities, complete with a draft tracker, content from before, during and after the draft and much more as this year's draft continues.
Gamecock signees and current players drafted
Player: Tyler Callihan
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, Pick number: 3, 85
Slot value: $710,700
Position: 2B/3B
Year: High school senior, Providence School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
2019 stats: N/A
The skinny: Callihan is one of the bigger high school bats in this draft class and brings serious pop to whichever team he’ll play for. A versatile infielder and Under Armour All-American, he’ll develop into a cleanup-hitter style of player over his career after a solid senior season in Florida.
Player: Ivan Johnson
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, Pick number: 4, 114
Slot value: $507,400
Position: Infielder
Year: Junior college sophomore (Chipola)
2019 stats: .381/.491/.587, 9 HR, 49 RBI, 34 BB, 37 K, 14 SB
The skinny: A very toolsy infielder, Johnson is coming off a really good season at Chipola and will likely do enough to sign professionally, skipping school. He’s a solid bat with decent pop and plays a smooth middle infield.
Player: TJ Hopkins
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, Pick number: 9, 264
Position: Outfielder
Slot value: $156,100
Year: Senior
2019 stats: .285/.363/.519, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 27 BB, 49 K
The skinny: A senior sign who made the most of his final year on campus, seeing his power numbers surge as he played a full, healthy season.
Luke Berryhill
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Round, Pick number: 13, 384
Slot value: N/A
Position: Catcher
Year: Redshirt sophomore
2019 stats: .271/.382/.538 12 HR, 49 RBI, 33 BB, 47 K
The skinny: Berryhill came in and was one of the bright spots on a Gamecock offense that struggled for the majority of the 2019 season. He’d hit cleanup and really tapped into his power as a redshirt sophomore. He saw a lot of draft interest pick up later in the process because of his bat and him playing a premium position on the field at catcher. He’s also speedy and can play left field as well.
Player: Reid Morgan
Team: Seattle Mariners
Round, Pick number: 13, 396
Slot value: N/A
Position: RHP
Year: Junior
2019 stats: 4-6, 3.80 ERA, 87.2 IP, 17 BB, 70 K, .276 BAA
The skinny: Morgan came in expected to be a key piece of the Gamecocks’ bullpen but quickly developed into the team’s best starter, moving to the Friday or Saturday role the majority of the season. As a junior coming off a solid year, his leverage and draft stock is probably at an all-time high.
Player: Andy Peters
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Round, Pick number: 21, 638
Slot value: N/A
Position: RHP
Year: Junior college sophomore (John A. Logan)
2019 stats: N/A
The skinny: Peters was a surefire early-round draft pick entering this season before Tommy John surgery in February. He’ll enroll this summer and continue rehabbing before being fully ready midseason. He throws an electric fastball that sits in the mid-90s with good breaking stuff.
Player: Jacob Olson
Team: Chicago Cubs
Round, pick number: 26, 792
Position: Utility
Slot value: N/A
Year: Senior
2019 stats: .254/.333/.502, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 16 BB, 40 K
The skinny: When looking at Olson, his power immediately jumps off the page with 13 homers and a slugging percentage of .502. He’d struggle with striking out and hitting for average but has the tools to develop into a good professional player.
Player: Brennan Milone
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Round, Pick number: 28, 851
Position: Infielder
Year: High school senior, Woodstock (Woodstock, Ga.)
2019 stats: N/A
The skinny: A guy who could, and did, go early in the draft after surging up draft boards his senior season. He’s a big bat that can play all four infield position and projects as a third baseman at his next level. Developed into a power hitter over his career and will likely continue that trend wherever he plays next year.
Player: Noah Myers
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Round, Pick number: 30, 897
Slot value: N/A
Position: Outfielder
Year: Junior college sophomore (Wabash Valley)
2019 stats: .397/. 531/.613, 8 HR, 60 RBI, 53 BB, 49 K, 77 SB
The skinny: Myers had a chance to go early on day two but fell to day three, which usually means a player ends up at school. He’s a high-ceiling outfield prospect that could anchor centerfield, which is being vacated by TJ Hopkins. He can hit for contact with plus power and has incredible speed, swiping close to 80 bags in 59 games.
Player: Brannon Jordan
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Round, Pick number: 31, 938
Slot value: N/A
Position: RHP
Year: Junior college sophomore (Cowley County)
2019 stats: 9-2, 2.63 ERA, 82 K, 23 BB, 3 CG, 61.2 IP
The skinny: Jordan was another guy that was on scouts’ radars this season in JUCO, coming off a little bang up early to pitch really well as a starter. He’ll likely end up at school as well and is firmly in the mix to work himself into the weekend rotation. He’s been up to 94 mph on his fastball with a slider he’s worked into his repertoire as well.
Player: Ridge Chapman
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Round, Pick number: 34, 1021
Slot value: N/A
Position: RHP
Year: Redshirt junior
2019 stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
The skinny: Chapman missed almost all of this year with a forearm injury that was hard to come back from. He’d only make one appearance before being shelved the remainder of the year. When he’s on, his fastball is lively in the mid-to-upper 90s with a solid changeup and curveball. After struggling to stay healthy this year, he could also opt to come back as a redshirt senior.
Player: James Nix
Team: Houston Astros
Round, Pick number: 35, 1,066
Slot value: N/A
Position: Outfielder
Year: Junior college redshirt freshman (Central Florida)
2019 stats: .462/.593/.739, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 40 BB, 16 K, 24 SB
The skinny: The newest addition to the South Carolina recruiting class, a really high-ceiling outfielder from the junior college ranks. He hit for average with some decent pop in his bat, but he’s an athletic outfielder that probably profiles at either of the two corner spots. He’s 6-foot-4, 225 pounds but runs really well and can be a big impact offensively.
Player: Thomas Farr
Team: Texas Rangers
Round, Pick number: 37, 1105
Position: RHP
Year: Junior college sophomore (Northwest Florida)
2019 stats: 0-1, 1.38 ERA, 14 K, 3 BB
The skinny: Farr is a guy who could have been a high draft pick but only pitched in three games this year with a fastball in the mid-90s with a changeup and a plus breaking ball. He’ll likely compete for starting innings early.
Player: Jeff Heinrich
Team: New York Mets
Round, Pick number: 40, 1196
Slot value: N/A
Position: Utility/infielder
Year: Junior college sophomore (McHenry)
2019 stats: .405/.462/.723, 7 HR, 54 RBI, 16 K, 13 BB, 12 SB
The skinny: Heinrich is a versatile infielder the Gamecocks brought in recently to the 2019 class, hoping he can fill the gaps and play either corner infield spot or second base. He’s got plus power and is a guy that can fit really anywhere into a lineup.
Content
Which players are likely to sign a professional contract (subs) || Gamecocks in final mock drafts (subs) || Seven JUCO signees in top 100 prospect list || A note on Brett Thomas (subs) || What can Brennan Milone bring to a team?
Remaining members of the 2019 signing class (* denotes JUCO): Luis Aviles, Jax Cash, RJ Dantin, Jonathan Machamer, Will McGregor, Shane Shifflett*, Brett Thomas, Trey Tujetsch, Braylen Wimmer
Remaining draft-eligible players on the roster: George Callil, Chris Cullen, Cole Ganopulos, Gage Hinson, Ian Jenkins, Graham Lawson, Hayden Lehman, TJ Shook
