At draft, MLB honors college pitcher who donated bone marrow

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — Major League Baseball has honored a college pitcher at the draft after he sacrificed part of his season to donate bone marrow to a young boy.

Commissioner Rob Manfred introduced Jason Boulais of the University of South Carolina Beaufort shortly before announcing Boston’s pick at No. 7 overall Monday night. The Red Sox fan was at the draft and received a standing ovation from many of the former major leaguers and team officials in attendance.

Boulais provided a cheek swab to the “Be The Match” registry on his college campus last October for potential bone marrow donors. He was told in March he was a preliminary match for a boy in France, and blood tests confirmed it. Boulais had surgery in May to have bone marrow removed from his back and pelvis, ending his senior season after 10 games.