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Trio of Trojans Selected on Final Day of MLB Draft
July 16, 2024 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – The 2024 MLB Draft wrapped up on Tuesday afternoon (July 16) and three USC baseball players were selected, with Josh Blum going to the New York Mets, Ryan Jackson to the San Diego Padres and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The three final-day selections come on the heels of Trojans Austin Overn and William Watson being drafted on Monday. Blum was selected in the 16th round, Jackson was taken in the 17th round and Martin-Grudzielanek went in the 20th.
The five total selections give USC 354 draft picks in its history and they continue the Trojans' streak of having a player selected in every MLB Draft since its inception in 1965. The five selections were also the most for USC since 2019 (7).
Blum, a junior right-hander out of Texas, was lights out this season as the Trojans' closer, posting a 1.87 ERA in 27 relief appearances. His 10 saves were the ninth most in USC history and were third in the Pac-12 and 14th in the NCAA this season. In his 33.2 innings pitched, Blum struck out a remarkable 45 batters to just 11 walks, holding opponents to a .154 batting average. In three years at USC, Blum owns a 3.81 ERA and 5-1 record, with all 68 of his appearances coming in relief.
Jackson transferred to USC from Nevada prior to the 2023 season and quickly became one of the most consistent infielders in the country. This past season, Jackson was tied for second on the team with a .323 average, starting 58 of USC's 59 games. He drove in 39 runs and scored 38, leading the team and finishing sixth in the Pac-12 with 18 doubles this year. Jackson also hit four homers and had one triple, while also stealing eight bases and drawing 26 walks. In two seasons at USC, Jackson has hit .307, driving in 66 runs and scoring 78. This year, Jackson earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and was named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament team.
Martin-Grudzielanek also transferred to USC prior to the 2023 season, moving over from UCLA. In his two seasons at Troy, he owns a .297 batting average, hitting eight home runs, 12 doubles and four triples in 76 games played. Despite missing some time this year, Martin-Grudzielanek hit .284 with 13 RBI and 14 runs scored. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, the infielder posted a .302 average, driving in 40 runs and scoring 40 more. He had seven homers, 10 doubles and two triples in 2023, while slugging .475.
USC has an unparalleled tradition of producing MLB talent. In addition to the school's now 354 draft picks, 119 Trojans have made it to the Big Leagues, more than any other NCAA institution. In total, Trojan alums boast 67 MLB All-Star appearances, 29 World Series appearances, nine Cy Young awards, three Hall of Famers, three Rookie of the Year Awards, one American League MVP and one World Series MVP.
The three final-day selections come on the heels of Trojans Austin Overn and William Watson being drafted on Monday. Blum was selected in the 16th round, Jackson was taken in the 17th round and Martin-Grudzielanek went in the 20th.
The five total selections give USC 354 draft picks in its history and they continue the Trojans' streak of having a player selected in every MLB Draft since its inception in 1965. The five selections were also the most for USC since 2019 (7).
Blum, a junior right-hander out of Texas, was lights out this season as the Trojans' closer, posting a 1.87 ERA in 27 relief appearances. His 10 saves were the ninth most in USC history and were third in the Pac-12 and 14th in the NCAA this season. In his 33.2 innings pitched, Blum struck out a remarkable 45 batters to just 11 walks, holding opponents to a .154 batting average. In three years at USC, Blum owns a 3.81 ERA and 5-1 record, with all 68 of his appearances coming in relief.
Jackson transferred to USC from Nevada prior to the 2023 season and quickly became one of the most consistent infielders in the country. This past season, Jackson was tied for second on the team with a .323 average, starting 58 of USC's 59 games. He drove in 39 runs and scored 38, leading the team and finishing sixth in the Pac-12 with 18 doubles this year. Jackson also hit four homers and had one triple, while also stealing eight bases and drawing 26 walks. In two seasons at USC, Jackson has hit .307, driving in 66 runs and scoring 78. This year, Jackson earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and was named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament team.
Martin-Grudzielanek also transferred to USC prior to the 2023 season, moving over from UCLA. In his two seasons at Troy, he owns a .297 batting average, hitting eight home runs, 12 doubles and four triples in 76 games played. Despite missing some time this year, Martin-Grudzielanek hit .284 with 13 RBI and 14 runs scored. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, the infielder posted a .302 average, driving in 40 runs and scoring 40 more. He had seven homers, 10 doubles and two triples in 2023, while slugging .475.
USC has an unparalleled tradition of producing MLB talent. In addition to the school's now 354 draft picks, 119 Trojans have made it to the Big Leagues, more than any other NCAA institution. In total, Trojan alums boast 67 MLB All-Star appearances, 29 World Series appearances, nine Cy Young awards, three Hall of Famers, three Rookie of the Year Awards, one American League MVP and one World Series MVP.
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