South Carolina baseball left-handed pitcher taken on Day 2 of MLB Draft

South Carolina baseball fans have had to pay close attention to the 2024 MLB Draft as Gamecocks (both current and future) have been selected through the early rounds of the draft.

Left-handed power bat PJ Morlando, the team's top-rated high school signee was drafted in the 1st round by the Miami Marlins (pick 16). In the 3rd round, the 77th overall pick was Gamecock All-American catcher Cole Messina who was taken by the Colorado Rockies. Then, junior college signee Brandon Clarke went in the 6th round (148th overall) by the Boston Red Sox). Right-handed pitcher Eli Jones was next off the board, going 218th overall (7th round) to the Minnesota Twins.

In the 9th round, the Tampa Bay Rays picked left-handed pitcher Garrett Gainey with the 276th pick of the MLB Draft.

Gainey landed in a great spot for "stuff relievers" as his big-movement fastball and high potential slider will fit in perfectly to what the Rays want their bullpen arms to be able to deliver. He also has some experience as a starter (mostly before joining the South Carolina baseball program), so there is the chance he is asked to do more than just be a reliever to Tampa Bay, especially given their propensity for using openers as opposed to traditional starters.

Unlike the Gamecocks drafted ahead of him in this year's draft, Gainey does not have an extra year of eligibility as he used his "Covid redshirt" to play a fifth year of college baseball for the home-state South Carolina baseball program after pitching for Winthrop and Liberty for the first four years of his career. His time as a professional will begin this summer with the Rays.

Gainey will not be the last Gamecock drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft. Several current players and high school signees (and, potentially, some junior college signees) all could be taken.