USC ace Dyson a projected first-rounder

COLUMBIA — South Carolina rarely makes it through the amateur draft unscathed.

And, as baseball coach Ray Tanner has said, perhaps that isn't such a good thing for your team; you want pro prospects roaming around your locker room.

But, as the Major League Baseball draft begins at 6 p.m. today, the Gamecocks shouldn't have their cupboard dramatically raided.

Despite an up-and-down sophomore season, the staff's ace, right-hander Sam Dyson, figures to be the first player off the board from the Palmetto State.

Dyson was 9-4 with a 5.21 ERA. That might be high, but opponents hit .237 against him. Scouts are in love with Dyson's fastball, which tops out at about 97 miles per hour, and they think he can pick up a pitch or two.

The Tampa, Fla., native could be taken as high as the 20s. Only the first round and the 10 supplemental picks will be featured tonight. The rest of the draft will take place Wednesday.

One Gamecocks connection could go earlier than Dyson.

Signee Wil Myers, a catching prospect from North Carolina, is projected as a consensus first-rounder. Scouts seem somewhat concerned about Myers' body type. But you heard that with another Tar Heel State product, and it seemed to have worked out OK for Landon Powell.

Some other Gamecocks will have tough decisions to make.

Junior left fielder DeAngelo Mack, after leading the SEC in hits in the regular season, could go in the top 10 rounds. If so, he'd have a difficult time coming back for his senior year.

Right-hander Parker Bangs threw great late in the season and could go early enough to consider leaving.

Catcher Justin Dalles had 11 hits and 10 RBIs in the regional, and he was a relatively high catching prospect a year ago coming out of his Florida junior college.

Nick Ebert might draw some looks as a corner infielder after his unexpected 23-homer season for the Gamecocks.

The Citadel could lose as many as three of its top juniors as first baseman Chris McGuiness, catcher Richard Jones and second baseman Bryan Altman all are considered draft-worthy.

McGuiness, a 6-0, 190-pounder from James Island High School, is ranked the No. 10 draft prospect in the state by Baseball America, which says "he knows the strike zone as well as any college hitter." McGuiness, who swings left-handed, batted .367 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs for the Bulldogs this season, and ranked among national leaders with 65 walks and a .520 on-base percentage.

Jones, 6-0 and 210 pounds, is ranked the No. 12 prospect in the state by Baseball America. He hit .378 with 17 homers and 69 RBIs and was named Monday to the Ping Baseball All-America team. "He'll go as far as his left-handed power will take him," Baseball America said.

Altman, a 6-1, 170-pounder from Summerville High School, is draft eligible as a redshirt junior and is listed at No. 25 in Baseball America's state rankings. He hit .368 with seven homers and 47 RBIs last season.

Citadel seniors Sonny Meade (.397, 5 homers, 67 RBIs), an outfielder, and pitchers Wes Wrenn (9-3, 3.62 ERA) on Monday, and Matt Crim (8-4, 4.10 ERA) also should hear their names called. Wrenn also was named a Ping All-American on Monday. Meade is ranked No. 19, Wrenn No. 22 and Crim No. 16 in the state by Baseball America.

College of Charleston junior third baseman Joey Bergman (.452, 15 homers, 57 RBIs) is not ranked by Baseball America, but might have played his way into the draft by earning Southern Conference SoCon player of the year honors. Second baseman Brandon Sizemore, taken in the 46th round by the Cardinals last year, returned for his senior year to hit .318 with 17 homers and 74 RBIs and leads a contingent of Cougars seniors who could be drafted.

Lowcountry high school players with a shot at being drafted include Wando outfielder Daniel Aldrich (ranked No. 24 in the state by Baseball America) and Bishop England catcher Brison Celek (No. 27), a South Carolina commitment.

Draftable players by school, according to Baseball America:

South Carolina — RHP Sam Dyson, C Justin Dalles, OF DeAngelo Mack, 1B Nick Ebert.

Clemson — LHP Chris Dwyer, 1B Ben Paulsen, RHP Graham Stoneburner, 2B Mike Freeman.

The Citadel — 1B Chris McGuiness, C Richard Jones, LHP Matt Crim, OF Sonny Meade, RHP Wes Wrenn, 2B Bryan Altman.

College of Charleston — 2B Brandon Sizemore.

High Schools — OF Daniel Aldrich (Wando); C Brison Celek (Bishop England).