The 361st overall pick in the draft is Gamecocks pitcher Blake Cooper. He has been selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Blake Cooper at this late in the draft is a steal in my book as he has been stellar this year for USC. The D’Backs have a very good pick on their hands.
Just look at the numbers….he leads the Southeastern Conference in victories with an 11-1 record including seven wins in conference play, tying him for the most conference wins as well. Cooper has pitched a SEC high 111.1 innings and is fourth in the league in earned run average (2.75), fourth in strikeouts (100) and fifth in opposing batting average (.226).
Cooper is the 3rd current Gamecock player to be drafted today in the MLB draft. Others were Sam Dyson and Whit Merrifield.
Also do note that LHP and USC signee Donnie Roche of College of Sierra Nevada taken in 3rd Rd by Anaheim. Roche was a teammate of #1 overall Bryce Harper.
The D’Backs taken a USC pitcher comes days after they traded one. Hope this one works out for a long time.
