Two Gamecock pitchers turn down a chance to return, sign with MLB teams
Two South Carolina baseball players who had a chance to return for another year are headed to play professional baseball.
Pitcher Graham Lawson is moving on and signing with the Chicago Cubs, making him the first senior to officially not use his extra year allowed because of the COVID-19 shutdown. Pitcher TJ Shook, a redshirt junior, is headed to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Shook posted about his signing on Twitter late Sunday afternoon.
Bryant Bowen, Dallas Beaver and George Callil all have the chance for another senior year as the NCAA allowed waivers for spring sports athletes whose final seasons were cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
The maximum bonus players can get after not getting drafted is $20,000. Sunday was the first day MLB teams could sign free agents. This year’s draft was limited to just five rounds because of the coronavirus.
Lawson pitched in six games this past season, one in which the Gamecocks were limited to 16 total games. He had a 1.50 ERA in six innings with eight strikeouts and seven walks.
He was coming back from Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2019 season.
Lawson spent four years in Columbia and another at Spartanburg Methodist. He was a key part of the 2018 bullpen that helped the Gamecocks to a NCAA Super Regional appearance. He was taken in the 12th round of the MLB draft after that season.
Shook was a standout at Dutch Fork High School before staying close to home with the Gamecocks. He pitched in six games this year in the shortened season and had a 2.02 ERA with two saves. The righty struck out 16 in 8 2/3 innings.
In 41 games, Shook was 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 72 innings. He had one year of eligibility remaining.
Lawson and Shook join Carmen Mlodzinski, who was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the MLB Draft on Wednesday. USC signee Luke Little also was drafted and is expected to sign.
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
