Orioles Draft USC’s Walker and Price

(USC SID) — South Carolina junior first baseman Christian Walker has been selected in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Walker was the No. 132nd overall pick in the draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He is the first current Gamecock player to be selected in the year‘s draft. Walker earned first-team All-SEC honors this year and is the team‘s leading hitter with a .319 average (67-for-210) with 44 runs scored, 11 homers and 53 RBI. In SEC games, Walker was among the best in the conference as he ranked first in walks (28), second in runs scored (28), second in on-base percentage (.463), tied for second in home runs (7), tied for second in runs batted in (25), third in slugging percentage (.578) and sixth in total bases (59). Walker is up to 238 career hits for the Garnet & Black, seven hits shy of Hank Small (1972-75) for 10th on the All-Time hits list at South Carolina. He has hit .337 (238-for-707) in his career at South Carolina with 30 homers, 44 doubles and 166 RBI. Walker has also been key in clutch situations as he was named to both the 2010 and 2011 CWS All-Tournament teams as the Gamecocks won back-to-back national championships in Omaha. South Carolina junior right-handed pitcher Matt Price has been selected in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Price was the No. 222 overall pick in the draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Price is the second current Gamecock player to be selected in this year‘s draft. The Orioles earlier today in the 4th round also selected junior first baseman Christian Walker. Price is the all-time saves leader at South Carolina with 40 as well as appearances with 97 for the Garnet & Black. Price is just one save shy of the SEC record of 41 set by Joshua Fields of Georgia (2005-08). Price earned second-team All-SEC honors this year and is 4-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 22 games with 10 saves. Nine of his 10 saves came in SEC play. Price earned All-America honors last year and was named to the CWS All-Tournament Team. He has served as closer for the Gamecocks since his redshirt freshman season in 2010. The Baltimore Orioles have several former Gamecocks currently in the organization. Steve Pearce (2004-05) and Steve Tolleson (2003-05) are both currently in, “The Show,” with the Orioles right now with Brian Roberts (1999) on the disabled list. Justin Dalles (2009) is also a member of the organization at the Single-A level in Frederick of the Carolina League.