Reds select Swansea star, USC signee on third day of MLB Draft
Swansea senior Josiah Sightler heard his name called on day three of the Major League draft.
The Cincinnati Reds picked Sightler in the 12th round on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder was ranked No. 383 in Baseball America’s Top 500. Sightler is signed with South Carolina, so he must choose whether to turn pro or play for the Gamecocks.
The Reds were one of the teams Sightler worked out for in the predraft process.
Sightler had a big senior season and hit .422 with seven homers and 26 RBIs despite being pitched around often. He was walked 28 times in 94 plate appearances.
Sightler didn’t pitch as he was recovering from a torn labrum. He was cleared to throw back in April and said he was almost 100 percent.
Sightler got on teams’ radars after his performance last summer at a Tournament of Stars Showcase at the USA Baseball Complex. There were three or four scouts at most of the Tigers’ games this year and more than 20 when they played in Gilbert’s Spring Break tournament.
This story was originally published June 6, 2018 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Reds select Swansea star, USC signee on third day of MLB Draft."