Washington Nationals select South Carolina OF Ethan Petry in 2025 MLB Draft

South Carolina outfielder Ethan Petry has heard his name called during the 2025 MLB Draft. He was selected No. 49 overall in the second round by the Washington Nationals.

As a junior during the 2025 season, Petry started 44 games for the Gamecocks. He finished the year batting a .321 average with 30 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 34 RBI. Petry led team in home runs and was second in RBI and walks (26).

He’s played in 168 games in a South Carolina uniform — 166 of which he logged starts in. An experienced talent, he was short-changed this past season after a sprained left shoulder joint limited him throughout the spring However, when healthy he projects as a strong piece to whichever lineup he plays in next season.

“Petry generates plus-plus raw power with massive strength and leverage from his 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame and an uphill right-handed stroke, and he’s capable of homering to any part of any ballpark,” his MLB scouting report reads. “The caveat is that he chases pitches excessively, swinging and missing inside and outside of the zone, though he will take walks when opponents pitch around him. He struggled with pitches at the top of and above the strike zone last spring but made adjustments and hammered them with wood bats on the Cape.”

His scouting report draws comparisons to Pete Alonso with less bat speed and Seth Beer with less plate discipline. The versatile defender could also play first base or outfield at the next level.

“He’s a well-below-average runner with extremely limited range in right field, though he does have solid arm strength and was clocked up to 96 mph off the mound as a prepster,” the report reads. “He has played a serviceable first base at South Carolina and likely will move there full-time once he turns pro.”

Before college, Petry was recruited as an outfielder and a pitcher. However, once he moved to hitting full-time he never looked back, setting a Gamecocks freshman record with 23 homers in 2023. He was limited to 10 following his injury this spring after hitting at least 20 in each of his first two seasons.

Petry has one season of eligibility remaining to return to South Carolina next season if he so chooses. For now, the Gamecocks slugger is an MLB-draftee after three successful seasons at the college level and has the opportunity to pursue his dream of playing in the big leagues.