USM’s Taylor Brayley to sign with Miami Marlins

The dilemma for division 1 baseball players selected in the MLB first year player draft is always this: do they stay for their senior season and finish what they started or carry out their dream of signing with a professional organization.
Earlier today, Taylor Brayley opted for the latter, foregoing his final year of eligibility at the division 1 level. Last week, the Miami Marlins selected him as a right hand pitcher in the sixth round at 179 overall. That’s where he’ll be signing this week, somewhere in the range of $250,000.
In 2017, Braley was dominant on the mound, posting a 7-2 record with a 3.40 ERA. It appears as if he’ll get to swing the bat a little bit as well, after clubbing 17 home runs with 61 RBIs as a junior.
That’s a big hit to USM’s batting order and pitching rotation, but a special opportunity for a hometown favorite at the next level. “My senior year at Southern Miss I think would have been the most probably amazing year I’ve ever had, but I mean you’ve got to sit and really think what am I going to do after that. Like if something happens, injury or something, and not get to go next year or you can just start your life off playing baseball with a little bit of money in your pocket, so I think it’s better to go now in the long run of my life,” said Braley.
Pitchers Kirk McCarty and Hayden Roberts are also reportedly going to sign with their respective big league clubs this week. McCarty with the Cleveland Indians and Roberts with the Colorado Rockies.
In addition, graduated senior and Conference USA Player of the Year Dylan Burdeaux signed with the Detroit Tigers yesterday.