21 Current and Potential Future Gamecocks Selected in 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft

It's fair to say that there's a lot of baseball talent in Columbia and on its way; though we're certain to lose some of it to dreams and money. OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. and recruits RHP Taylor Guerrieri (Spring Valley/Columbia, SC) and OF Brian Goodwin (North Carolina/Miami-Dade JC) were all three taken within the draft's first 40 selections.

Standout junior LHP Michael Roth, a Golden Spikes Award semi-finalist, was not taken until the 31st round. Given his academic excellence, coupled with the late draft selection, the probability of Roth returning to Columbia for his senior season is high. The 6th round selection for sophomore RHP Matt Price places him in a tougher decision-making situation. However, Price, with two years of eligibility remaining, will still have bargaining leverage should he decide to come back next year. I expect he'll elect to spend another season in garnet and black.

South Carolina Gamecocks football signees RB Shon Carson (Lake City/SC) and DB Ahmad Christian (Trinity Christian/Jacksonville, FL) were not drafted until the 44th and 46th rounds, respectively. It's not likely either will be lost to professional baseball given their late picks.

Current Gamecocks Drafted:

OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. - Compensation Round A, 40, Boston Red Sox
RHP Matt Price - 6th Round, 184, Arizona Diamondbacks
2B Scott Wingo - 11th Round, 344, Los Angeles Dodgers
SS Peter Mooney - 21st Round, 649, Toronto Blue Jays
RHP John Taylor - 22nd Round, 663, Seattle Mariners
OF Adam Matthews - 23rd Round, 695, Baltimore Orioles
RHP Bryan Harper - 30th Round, 907, Washington Nationals
LHP Michael Roth - 31st Round, 938, Cleveland Indians
OF Steven Neff - 41st Round, 1257, San Francisco Giants
LHP Tyler Webb - 48th Round, 1465, Cincinnati Reds
3B Adrian Morales - 49th Round, 1476, Kansas City Royals

See which of South Carolina's recruits were drafted after the jump.

Class of 2011 Recruits Drafted:

RHP Taylor Guerrieri (Spring Valley/Columbia, SC) - 1st Round, 24, Tampa Bay Rays
OF Brian Goodwin (North Carolina/Miami-Dade JC) - Compensation Round A, 34, Washington Nationals
RHP Evan Beal (South County Secondary School/Lorton, VA) - 8th Round, 246, Kansas City Royals
OF Tanner English (St. James/Murrells Inlet, SC) - 13th Round, 420, Tampa Bay Rays
LHP Andrew Faulkner (South Aiken/Aiken, SC) - 4th Round, 444, Texas Rangers
RHP Joel Seddon (St. Clair/MI) - 20th Round, 619, Toronto Blue Jays
SS TJ Costen (First Colonial/Virginia Beach, VA) - 22nd Round, 684, Texas Rangers
RHP Joey Pankake (Easley/SC) - 42nd Round, 1284, Texas Rangers
OF Shon Carson (Lake City/SC) - 44th Round, 1345, Cincinnati Reds
SS Ahmad Christian (Trinity Christian/Jacksonville, FL) - 46th Round, 1391, Milwaukee Brewers