The first Gamecocks are off the board in this year’s MLB Draft
Six players from South Carolina baseball’s 2021 roster were selected Monday on the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft.
The Los Angeles Angels picked Gamecock pitcher Brett Kerry in the fifth round of the draft. Eight picks later, the Miami Marlins drafted outfielder Brady Allen — Cincinnati then took pitcher Thomas Farr with the very next pick.
Gamecocks pitcher Brannon Jordan went in the ninth round to the Milwaukee Brewers, and reliever Andrew Peters joined Kerry after being picked in the 10th round by the Angels.
Wes Clarke, one of the top power hitters in the country, was chosen by Milwaukee in the 10th round.
The slot value, or projected signing bonus, for Kerry’s pick is $390,400. Allen’s slot is $360,800, with Farr’s at $357,000. Jordan’s is $154,900 and Peters’ is $147,200. Clarke’s slot is for $145.500.
They are all expected to sign.
According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, only two of 317 prospects drafted in the top 10 rounds in 2019 didn’t sign with their clubs; only four of the first 314 draftees didn’t sign in 2018.
The Gamecocks’ six selections are tied for second most among Division I schools.
Kerry split time as a starter and closer for the Gamecocks in 2021. In 17 appearances, he was 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA and four saves while striking out 84 batters in 54.1 innings pitched.
“He throws three secondary pitches for strikes and has a chance to be a starter on the next level,” Callis said of Kerry.
Allen was among the most consistent and productive hitters in Mark Kingston’s lineup this season. He finished second on the team with a .276 average, slugging .516 and hitting 13 home runs.
“He can do a little bit of everything,” Callis said of Allen.
Farr was the highest-ranking Gamecock player on both the Baseball America Top 500 and MLB.com’s Top 250, ranking 109 and 139, respectively.
Farr is an enticing prospect due to his mid-90 mph fastball, which can touch as high as 97 mph. He mixes that pitch with a low-80s breaking ball with downward bite and the occasional changeup. Farr finished the season with a 3-7 record and 3.87 ERA, striking out 90 and walking 38 in 83.2 innings.
Jordan made 15 starts this season with a 5-6 record and 4.58 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings.
Peters appeared in 19 games this season for USC and was 4-1 with a 3.62 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings pitched. Opponents hit .205 against him.
No name was bigger in college baseball early in the season, as Clarke blossomed into one of the top home run hitters in the country. He finished the year tied for the national lead with 23 homers.
Clarke played first base and catcher for the Gamecocks and was drafted as a catcher. Milwaukee also drafted Clarke out of high school in the 40th round back in 2018.
“He has a power-oriented swing. Let’s see how that plays against pro pitchers,” Callis said of Clarke.
Gamecock signee Cooper Kinney was taken in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night. The infielder from Baylor High in Chattanooga, Tennessee told reporters he plans on signing with Tampa and will bypass college. Slot value for Kinney was $2.15 million.
Kinney was the Tennessee high school Gatorade Player of the Year and hit .480 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs this season.
Another USC signee, Florence-Darlington Tech pitcher Hunter Parks, went to the Reds in the eighth round.
Michael Braswell and Thad Ector, two of Gamecocks’ top high school signees, posted Monday on Twitter that they would enroll at the school and take their name out of draft consideration.
Rounds 11-20 are Tuesday.
This story was originally published July 12, 2021 at 3:26 PM.
