South Carolina commit Noah Franklin taken in MLB Draft
Before his senior year, South Carolina native Noah Franklin transferred from his hometown high school to an academy in Florida.
Now, he has the option to return to his home state or report to the Texas Rangers to begin his professional journey.
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The Rangers drafted Franklin with the 505th pick in the 17th round Monday during the 2025 MLB Draft.
With the selection, Franklin has the opportunity to join fellow former Gamecock commit Corey Seager in the Rangers’ clubhouse. Seager was a member of the Gamecocks’ 2012 recruiting class before turning pro out of high school. He was a first-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012. Seager signed a 10-year contract with the Rangers in 2021.
Franklin was the first of two high school commits for the Gamecocks drafted in the 17th round. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Luke Roupe 10 picks later at 515.
Roupe is a native of Little River, SC, and committed to the Gamecocks in June of 2024. Formerly a student-athlete at North Myrtle Beach High, he transferred to Grace Christian School in North Carolina ahead of his senior year.
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Both have the option to delay their professional debuts and play for South Carolina next season.
Franklin originally committed to the Duke Blue Devils in 2022, before flipping to the Gamecocks in July 2024.
“Right when I received my offer from South Carolina, I took it instantly,” Franklin told GamecockCentral after the commitment. “I think it was one of those things where I kind of knew I wanted to be there.”
The South Carolina native spent three years at West Ashley High School in Charleston, SC, before spending his senior season with TNXL Academy in Ocnee, Florida. During his time at West Ashley, Franklin was teammates with the Gamecocks’ rising sophomore pitcher Zach Russell.
There, at TNXL Academy, Franklin hit .388 with a 1.194 OPS that included seven home runs and 11 doubles. He also drew 12 walks and 24 hit by pitches en route to the NAA National Championship, where he earned MVP.
The Gamecocks prepared during the transfer portal should Franklin decide to forgo college, recently bringing in former All-Big Ten First Team catcher Reese Moore from the Iowa Hawkeyes and Presbyterian’s Jake Randolph. The move put five catchers on the South Carolina roster, should Franklin turn pro.