It was an exciting MLB Draft for the USC Trojans, who saw three athletes get their calls to the show Sunday and Monday in Cumberland, Georgia.
Dual-player and No. 159 overall prospect Ethan Hedges was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd round with pick No. 77. Then, the Baltimore Orioles snagged lefthander and No. 149 overall prospect Caden Hunter with pick No. 184 in the 6th round.
It was quiet for the Trojans until the final round. In fact, it was quiet until the very end of the Draft.
With the second-to-last pick, No. 614 in the 20th round, the New York Yankees selected shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek.
Martin-Grudzielanek was selected in the 20th round of the 2024 Draft as well, by the Toronto Blue Jays with pick No. 607. Instead of signing, he chose to return to USC.
As a fourth year junior last season, Martin-Grudzielanek slashed .294/.364/.433. He recorded career-highs in runs (44), RBI (41), home runs (8) and stolen bases (9 on 10 attempts), plus 70 hits. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound infielder made 128 starts in 136 total games played for the Trojans.
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He spent his freshman season nearby at UCLA, but didn’t see any playing time. As a redshirt freshman at USC in 2023, he had 20 multi-hit games and finished with a .302/.394/.475 slash. The following year he caught the Blue Jays’ attention despite suffering injuries, batting .284/.369/.405.
The San Diego native sees the ball well and can produce at the plate, but he’s almost definitely bound for the Yankees’ development system, given New York’s current starting shortstop Anthony Volpe.