Gamecocks pitcher signee turning pro

South Aiken pitcher, South Carolina signee and Texas Rangers draft pick Andrew Faulkner is headed to professional baseball.

Faulkner, a 14th round pick in this month's MLB Draft, is opting for the minor leagues over college, he told WRDW-TV in Augusta on Sunday.

"Last year at this time, I was playing baseball with the school team still and not really thinking about anything," he told WRDW. "Then, this all kind of just jumps on you at once, and I'm just trying to take it the best I can. I'm definitely really looking forward to it. That's the best you can do."

Faulkner told WRDW that Texas promised to pay for his college education at a later date if he turned pro, a standard protocol for major league teams.

At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Faulkner has the potential to get a lot bigger.

He committed to USC in September 2009, choosing the Gamecocks over interest from College of Charleston and Clemson before he had another offer.

Faulkner was rated the No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect and No. 6 overall prospect in South Carolina’s Class of 2011 by Diamond Prospects.

This story was originally published June 20, 2011 at 2:18 AM with the headline "Gamecocks pitcher signee turning pro."