Photo by: Brandon Phillips
Three Gamecocks Selected in 2026 MLB Draft
7/12/2026 6:20:00 PM | Baseball
Jax State has three players drafted for the first time since 2012
PHILADELPHIA — Former Jax State baseball players Beau Bryans, Caleb Johnson, and Brady Thomas were taken on Sunday, the second and final day, in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
Bryans was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco Giants, while Johnson was taken in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thomas represented the final Gamecock taken with his 14th-round selection by the Houston Astros.
This represents the 11th time overall that Jax State has had three or more players drafted in the same year. Previously, Ben Waldrip, Sam Eberle, and Daniel Watts were taken in the 2012 MLB Draft. This also represents back-to-back years where multiple Gamecocks were taken in the draft, with Joe Scarborough and Jackson Phipps being taken in last year's draft.
BEAU BRYANS | LHP | SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | ROUND 7 | PICK 208
Beau Bryans concluded his collegiate career at Jax State, where he was a weekend starter for the Gamecocks, cementing his spot on Saturdays. The Brandon, Mississippi, native was a 2026 Conference USA Second Team All-Conference selection after posting a 7-1 record and 3.66 ERA in 2026. Bryans fanned 78 this season and only allowed opposing batters to hit .225 off of him. He posted three-straight quality starts from April 18th to May 2nd, and earned two CUSA Pitcher of the Week honors through the season. He set a career-high of 10 strikeouts this season against Valparaiso on March 7th, matching it again on April 25th against New Mexico State.
CALEB JOHNSON | SS | LOS ANGELES DODGERS | ROUND 13 | PICK 403
A 2026 Conference USA Second Team All-Conference selection, Caleb Johnson concluded his collegiate career with career-highs in hits (68), runs (59), doubles (21), home runs (10), and RBI (55). He slashed .309/.559/.413, all of which were career highs. The Phenix City product stole 23 bags in 2026, the ninth-most in a single season in Jax State history. Johnson cements himself in the history books with the seventh-most stolen bases in a Jax State career at 60. He also finished at eighth all-time in runs scored in a career with 175 He also finished with nine triples, tied for fifth all-time. Johnson ties Dean Friery for seventh-most doubles in a career with 52.
BRADY THOMAS | RHP* | HOUSTON ASTROS | ROUND 14 | PICK 421
Brady Thomas ended his collegiate career with a career-high .329 batting average. The Brandon, Mississippi native belted a team-high 11 home runs and four triples, posting the highest OPS on the team at 1.132. He finished with a slugging percentage of .653 and 43 RBI, and posted the highest on-base percentage on the team at .479 Thomas was a two-way player who finished with a 2-0 record in the mound, recording two starts in eight appearances. He had a 2/1 strikeout-to-walk-ratio with 18 strikeouts to nine walks in 14 innings pitched.
*Thomas was drafted as a pitcher by the Astros.
Bryans was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco Giants, while Johnson was taken in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thomas represented the final Gamecock taken with his 14th-round selection by the Houston Astros.
This represents the 11th time overall that Jax State has had three or more players drafted in the same year. Previously, Ben Waldrip, Sam Eberle, and Daniel Watts were taken in the 2012 MLB Draft. This also represents back-to-back years where multiple Gamecocks were taken in the draft, with Joe Scarborough and Jackson Phipps being taken in last year's draft.
BEAU BRYANS | LHP | SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | ROUND 7 | PICK 208
Beau Bryans concluded his collegiate career at Jax State, where he was a weekend starter for the Gamecocks, cementing his spot on Saturdays. The Brandon, Mississippi, native was a 2026 Conference USA Second Team All-Conference selection after posting a 7-1 record and 3.66 ERA in 2026. Bryans fanned 78 this season and only allowed opposing batters to hit .225 off of him. He posted three-straight quality starts from April 18th to May 2nd, and earned two CUSA Pitcher of the Week honors through the season. He set a career-high of 10 strikeouts this season against Valparaiso on March 7th, matching it again on April 25th against New Mexico State.
CALEB JOHNSON | SS | LOS ANGELES DODGERS | ROUND 13 | PICK 403
A 2026 Conference USA Second Team All-Conference selection, Caleb Johnson concluded his collegiate career with career-highs in hits (68), runs (59), doubles (21), home runs (10), and RBI (55). He slashed .309/.559/.413, all of which were career highs. The Phenix City product stole 23 bags in 2026, the ninth-most in a single season in Jax State history. Johnson cements himself in the history books with the seventh-most stolen bases in a Jax State career at 60. He also finished at eighth all-time in runs scored in a career with 175 He also finished with nine triples, tied for fifth all-time. Johnson ties Dean Friery for seventh-most doubles in a career with 52.
BRADY THOMAS | RHP* | HOUSTON ASTROS | ROUND 14 | PICK 421
Brady Thomas ended his collegiate career with a career-high .329 batting average. The Brandon, Mississippi native belted a team-high 11 home runs and four triples, posting the highest OPS on the team at 1.132. He finished with a slugging percentage of .653 and 43 RBI, and posted the highest on-base percentage on the team at .479 Thomas was a two-way player who finished with a 2-0 record in the mound, recording two starts in eight appearances. He had a 2/1 strikeout-to-walk-ratio with 18 strikeouts to nine walks in 14 innings pitched.
*Thomas was drafted as a pitcher by the Astros.
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