The South Carolina baseball program has sent more than its share of players to the professional ranks, including more than 40 who spent some time in the major leagues.
A number of former Gamecock standouts continue to make their push to maintain big league careers this season, including Brian Roberts, Justin Smoak, James Darnell, Landon Powell and Steve Pearce.
As these title-team players prepare to report to their spring training sites across Florida and Arizona, lets take a look at how they fared last season.
2010 DRAFTEES
PARKER BANGS, Pitcher
USC (2008-10)
Kansas City Royals (31st round)
Last season: Threw 22 innings in relief in the rookie Arizona League with 0-2 record and 6.55 ERA.
BLAKE COOPER, Pitcher
USC (2007-10)
Arizona Diamondbacks (12th round)
Last season: Split his season between South Bend in the Class A Midwest League and Visalia in the Class A California League and compiled an overall 3-3 record with a 3.62 ERA and 10 saves over 542/3 innings as a reliever.
SAM DYSON, Pitcher
USC (2007-10)
Toronto Blue Jays (4th round)
Last season: Did not pitch because of Tommy John surgery.
BOBBY HANEY, Shortstop
USC (2009-10)
San Francisco Giants (22nd round)
Last season: Played for Augusta of Class A South Atlantic League and San Jose of the Class A California League, where he combined to hit .237 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 278 at-bats.
WHIT MERRIFIELD, Outfielder
USC (2008-10)
Kansas City Royals (9th round)
Last season: Played for Wilmington in the Class A Carolina League, where he hit .262 with 30 doubles, five homers, 36 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases and made the All-Star team. Also was called up to Triple-A Omaha for the playoffs but did not get into a game.
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2011 DRAFTEES
JACKIE BRADLEY JR., Outfielder
USC (2009-11)
Boston Red Sox (1st round supplemental)
Last season: Signed in mid-August and batted .250 with one home run and three RBIs in 36 at-bats split between short-season Class A Lowell of the New York-Penn League and Class A Greenville of the South Atlantic League.
BRYAN HARPER, Pitcher
USC (2011)
Washington Nationals (30th round)
Last season: Threw two innings for the Nationals team in the rookie Gulf Coast League.
PETER MOONEY, Shortstop
USC (2011)
Toronto Blue Jays (21st round)
Last season: Split time between three teams, the rookie Gulf Coast League team, Bluefield in the rookie Appalachian League and Lansing in the Class A Midwest League, where he batted a combined .286 with 10 doubles, one homer and 13 RBIs in 112 at-bats.
ADRIAN MORALES, Third base
USC (2010-11)
Kansas City Royals (49th round)
Last season: Spent most of the summer in the rookie Arizona League, where he hit .323 with four homers and 28 RBIs, before a late-season three-game call-up to Class A Wilmington of the Carolina League.
STEVEN NEFF, Pitcher
USC (2008-11)
San Francisco Giants (41st round)
Last season: Pitched four innings in the rookie Arizona League.
JOHN TAYLOR, Pitcher
USC (2010-11)
Seattle Mariners (22nd round)
Last season: Split time between Pulaski in the rookie Appalachian League and Clinton in the Class A Midwest League, where he went a combined 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA and three saves in 16 appearances.
SCOTT WINGO, Second base
USC (2008-11)
Los Angeles Dodgers (11th round)
Last season: Started in the rookie Arizona League before a quick call-up to Ogden of the rookie Pioneer League and finished with a combined .302 average, four homers, and 17 RBIs.
