Historic day in the MLB Draft as three South Carolina high school players are selected in the first round

Heading into this weekend’s Major League Baseball Draft, the state of South Carolina had a chance to match a little history. Before 5 o’clock on Saturday, that chance had turned into reality.

Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey got the afternoon started for the state as the big right-hander was selected 22nd overall by the Detroit Tigers. According to CCU, Flukey’s selection makes him the highest Major League Baseball Draft pick in Coastal Carolina baseball history, surpassing Eric Brown, who was taken No. 27 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. He also becomes the third first-round selection in program history, joining Brown and Caden Bodine, the No. 30 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in last year’s MLB Draft.

For the high schoolers, it started with Southside Christian pitcher Carson Bolemon going at No. 29 to the San Francisco Giants and continued with James Island OF Taj Marchand being selected 33rd overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. History was achieved when Christ Church INF Bo Lowrance was selected 40th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to The State newspaper, this is the first time since 1969 that three high school players from South Carolina have gone in the first round of the MLB Draft. Fifty-seven years ago, Timmonsville’s Mike Anderson (sixth overall, Philadelphia Phillies); Don Hood (17th overall, Baltimore Orioles) of Southside High in Florence; and James Island’s Gorman Thomas (21st overall, Seattle Pilots) were picked in the first round.

Clemson commitment RHP Blake Bryant was drafted 31st by the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, no players with USC connections were drafted on Saturday. The draft continues on Sunday morning at 11:30 am.