COLUMBIA, S.C. — After an All-America season which saw him catch fire in the post season, Gamecock Junior catcher Cole Messina was taken in the third round by the Colorado Rockies on the second day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
The Summerville product did not have to wait long on day two as he went with the 77th overall selection.
A consensus All-American from this past season, Messina was named the winner of the Johnny Bench Award which goes to the top catcher in the country for college baseball. Messina led the team with 71 runs batted in and a .326 batting average. He tied for the team lead with 21 home runs.
Other Gamecock players drafted on day two of the MLB Draft are -
Brandon Clarke, 5th round, 148th pick to the Red Sox
Eli Jones, 7th round, 218th pick to the Twins
Garrett Gainey, 9th round, 276th pick to Rays
