Four current Gamecocks taken on second day of 2018 MLB Draft
Carlos Cortes and Adam Hill might not be done being teammates after all.
The two South Carolina Gamecocks were taken by the New York Mets on Tuesday in the second day of the MLB draft.
The Mets took Cortes in the third round, 83rd overall, while Hill went in the fourth round, 110th overall. Cortes is only a sophomore but is draft-eligible because of his age. The slot value for Cortes' selection is $705,300. Hill's value is $507,800.
If both turn pro, they might return to the area as members of the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Former Gamecock Gene Cone was drafted by the Mets in 2016 and played last season with the Fireflies.
It's the second time Cortes was picked by the Mets. He was taken in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB draft. Cortes is hitting .260 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs this season for the Gamecocks. He was ranked the 177th best prospect by Baseball America.
Cortes has played both infield and outfield for the Gamecocks. The Mets drafted him as a second baseman.
"One of my favorite story lines last summer was seeing Carlos Cortes play second base right-handed, left field left-handed," MLB Network's Peter Gammons tweeted Tuesday.
Hill, a junior, is 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 15 starts with 98 strikeouts in 78 innings. He struck out a Founders Park-record 14 batters against Charleston Southern on Feb. 23.
The right-hander was ranked the 81st best prospect by Baseball America. The former T.L. Hanna standout was taken by the San Diego Padres in the 39th round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Hill was one of two USC pitchers drafted Tuesday. Right-hander Cody Morris was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round. Slot value for Morris' pick is $185,600.
Morris, a draft-eligible sophomore, has been one of South Carolina’s most reliable starters this year. He is 8-3 with 3.68 ERA in 15 starts.
Morris has struck out 83 in 78 1/3 innings. He was ranked No. 292 in Baseball America's Top 500.
The Philadelphia Phillies took Madison Stokes in the 10th round. Stokes, who played at A.C. Flora, has a slot value of $142,600.
Stokes, who has battled injuries during his career at USC, put together his best season this year. He has 10 homers and 43 RBIs and leads the team with a .587 slugging percentage.
USC signee Taj Bradley was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the draft. Bradley, a pitcher, played at Redan High in Georgia and just turned 17 years old in March.
Bradley’s slot value is $343,600. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bradley was rated No. 146 best prospect by Baseball America.
On Monday, South Carolina signee Owen White was taken by the Texas Rangers in the second round, 55th overall. The slot value for White's pick is $1,257,500.
USC coach Mark Kingston, in an interview on SportsTalk radio Tuesday, said he expects the underclassmen and signees taken in the first 10 rounds of the draft to sign professional contracts.
Deadline to sign a pro contract is July 6. The draft will conclude Wednesday with rounds 11-40 beginning at noon.
South Carolina MLB draftees
Second round
55. Texas Rangers, Owen White, P, Jesse Carson HS (Signee)
Third Round
83. New York Mets, Carlos Cortes, INF
Fourth round
110. New York Mets, Adam Hill, P
Fifth round
150. Tampa Bay Rays, Taj Bradley, P, Redan HS (Ga.) (Signee)
Seventh round
223. Cleveland Indians, Cody Morris, P
10th round
287. Philadelphia Phillies, Madison Stokes, SS
This story was originally published June 5, 2018 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Four current Gamecocks taken on second day of 2018 MLB Draft."