Former Gamecock inks contract with MLB Draft League
Former South Carolina Gamecock pitcher John Gilreath has signed a contract with the Trenton Thunder of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft League.
The left-handed pitcher completed his fifth-season at USC in 2022. Since then, he’s been staying around South Carolina and working out in hopes to sign with a professional team. That dream become a reality on Monday.
“It’s just an awesome feeling to have my work and perseverance pay off,” Gilreath told Gamecock Central late Monday night. “I’m ready to go make Gamecock fans proud in New Jersey.”
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Gilreath says that he’ll be reporting to New Jersey around July 1. Once there he’ll receive weekly compensation, housing, meal money, and travel. Each team will play 50 games with the season running from July 7-Sept. 2.
Formed in 2021, the MLB Draft League began play in 2021. The league consist of six teams and features a split-season amateur-professional format. The first half of the season is reserved for draft-eligible players who are looking to improve their stock ahead of the MLB Draft in July. The second half of the year is for professional players who’ve exhausted their amateur eligibility. That’s where Gilreath falls under.
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According to the MLB Draft League, four players who took part in the professional portion of the season last year had their contracts purchased by a Major League organization.
Gilreath began his career as an early enrollee into South Carolina in 2018 out of Northwestern High School (Rock Hill, SC). At just 17 years old, he made his collegiate debut. He’d go on to make 24 appearances with three starts for the Gamecocks his freshman season.
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Used more as a relief pitcher as his career at USC played out, he recorded 136 strikeouts in 140.1 innings pitched. Gilreath added two saves to go along with a 5.32 ERA.
