South Carolina baseball player fulfills ‘lifelong dream,’ signs first MLB contract

Josiah Sightler, one of South Carolina baseball’s top 2022 performers and draft picks, is officially a pro player after signing his MLB rookie contract.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday they’d signed Sightler to a deal after selecting the first baseman in the 15th round of this month’s MLB Draft. The contract’s worth $125,000, per MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis.

In a Twitter message, Sightler thanked his South Carolina coaches and teammates, as well as the program’s fan base and his parents, Durock and Debi, for helping him “fulfill my lifelong dream.”

Sightler led the Gamecocks with 15 home runs in his final season while batting .300 and recording 31 RBIs. He also had 13 multi-hit games, seven multi-RBI performances and a .988 fielding percentage in 2022.

The 6-foot-5 Sightler was the top-ranked player in South Carolina’s high school class of 2018 out of Swansea High School and played four seasons for the Gamecocks.

He was one of four former USC players selected in the 2022 MLB Draft.

This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 1:40 PM.

Chapel Fowler

The State

Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since summer 2022. His work’s also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and a pickup basketball enthusiast. Support my work with a digital subscription