South Carolina pitcher Taylor Widener selected by Yankees in 12th round of MLB Draft

Taylor Widener joined four of his other South Carolina teammates in being selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. Widener, a junior right-hander, was picked in the 12th round by the New York Yankees.

Thus far this season, Widener is 4-2 in 16 appearances (with nine starts) and holds an ERA of 3.93. in 55.0 innings, he has allowed 53 hits, 28 runs (24 earned), walked 15 and struck out 66. Opponents are hitting just .247 off of him in 2016. In regional action this past weekend, Widener looked sharp. He allowed four hits, walked none and struck out six in 3.1 shutout innings of relief in the opener against Rhode Island before allowing just one run and three hits - while walking three and striking out four - in the series clincher against UNC Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon.

Four other Gamecocks have been selected in the Draft thus far: Braden Webb (third round, Brewers), Dom Thompson-Williams (5th round, Yankees), and tenth-round picks Marcus Mooney (Braves) and Gene Cone (Yankees). Joe Rizzo, who has signed with the Gamecocks, was taken in the 2nd round of the Draft by the Seattle Mariners and will now decide whether he will enroll at South Carolina or forgo college and turn pro.