The MLB Draft is just about seven months away and while a lot can change between now and then, South Carolina baseball pitcher Will Sanders probably likes where he’s projected right now. MLB Pipeline released its first 2023 mock MLB Draft and Sanders is comfortably in the first round.
MLB Draft analyst Jonathan Mayo has Sanders slotted as the No. 15 overall pick, which he has projected going to the Chicago White Sox. Sanders is one of eight players from the Southeastern Conference projected to go in the top 15 overall picks.
Sanders, who started 15 games last season for the Gamecocks, posted a 7-3 record with a 3.43 ERA in 89 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 91 hitters, and had 53 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings in Southeastern Conference games. He finished fifth in the SEC in innings pitched and 10th in both ERA and strikeouts.
Here’s what was written about Sanders on MLB.com:
While the White Sox have gone the high school route the last two years, they did take a college arm in Garrett Crochet in 2020, and this is a good part of the Draft for the next tier of college arms to come off the board.
In two years with the Gamecocks, Sanders is 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA. He’s pitched in 37 games with 25 starts and has a save to his credit as well. In 142 2/3 innings pitched, he has allowed 133 hits and 42 walks while striking out 145.
Sanders is projected as the Opening Game starter this season on the mound with second-year Gamecock Noah Hall backing him up in the Saturday role. Junior Jack Mahoney is the projected Sunday starter after a year off the mound as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
Sanders and the Gamecocks open the season on Friday, February 17 in a three-game series against UMass Lowell with first pitch set for 4 pm The second non-conference series of the season is against Penn with the Clemson series being the third weekend of the season. The Gamecocks will begin SEC play on March 17 on the road against Georgia.