Draft Night Spotlight
The 2026 MLB draft brought a wave of excitement to South Carolina as three of its top high school seniors heard their names called in the first two rounds. Carson Bolemon, a right‑handed pitcher from Dorman High, slid to the San Francisco Giants at the 29th overall pick, while shortstop Taj Marchand from First Baptist Academy went to the Tampa Bay Rays at No. 33. Bo Lowrance, a power‑hitting outfielder from J. I. Wilson, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 40th pick, marking the first Dodgers selection who had to forfeit a later slot because of an over‑signing issue the previous year.
Celebrating a Statewide Achievement
The trio’s selections added to a growing list of South Carolina baseball stars who have transitioned to the professional ranks. Both Bolemon and Marchand were named Co‑Mr. Baseball for 2026, a testament to their dominance on the diamond, while Lowrance’s draft position underscored the depth of talent emerging from the Palmetto State.
A Technical Setback
Mid‑June brought an unexpected blow when the High School Sports Review (HSSR) suffered a major computer crash that halted the release of all‑state teams across every classification. The outage forced the organization to scramble for repairs, ultimately incurring more than $10,000 in expenses for hardware replacement and upgrades.
Despite the setback, the HSSR was able to invest in a new, state‑of‑the‑art workstation equipped with top‑of‑the‑line virus protection, ensuring that future publications will be more reliable and that the state’s baseball heritage will continue to be documented without interruption.
Looking Ahead
With the draft now in the books, the focus shifts to the upcoming season where these prospects will join college programs or sign professional contracts. Their performances will be watched closely by scouts, coaches, and fans eager to see how South Carolina’s baseball pipeline continues to produce talent that can compete on the national stage.