Gamecock MLB Draft Profile: LHP John Parke

MLB Draft result: Round 21, pick 627 Chicago White Sox

Once upon on a time John Parke had the looks of a very promising college prospect. Parke was rated as one of the best high school pitchers in the state of South Carolina coming out of Greenville High School in 2014. At six-foot-three, 215 pounds -- the lefty looked the part of a future ace.

However that’s where Parke’s promise began and ended as a pitcher in the Garnet and Black. In his first two years Parke became buried in the bullpen with future big leaguers Braden Webb, Jack Wynkoop and Clarke Schmidt clogging up the starting rotation. From 2015 to 2016 Parke pitched a total of 12.2 innings, giving up a total of 12 walks, six hits and striking out 13 hitters.

In 2017 Parke was mostly a liability out of the pen and in a handful of starts. He certainly has the frame of a pig league pitcher, but the team who drafts him is taking a big gamble considering he’s never had any real success outside of high school.