Cone To Sign With Mets
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — USC outfielder Gene Cone might not be leaving Columbia, but he is leaving the Gamecock baseball program. The 10th round MLB draft pick will sign with the New York Mets Friday for a reported $150,000.
10th-rder Gene Cone signs w/@Mets for $150k (pick 310 = $156,600). South Carolina OF, contact bat, 31-game hit streak this spring @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 16, 2016
Cone, a former Spring Valley High School standout, could stay close to home because Columbia’s new minor league team, the Fireflies, is the Mets’ class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
After hitting just .257 as a sophomore, Cone exploded for a breakout junior year in 2016 that earned him a spot on the All-SEC first team. He led the Gamecocks with a .363 batting average (next best was .321) and set a school record with a 31-game hitting streak.
Cone is the second Gamecock junior to sign with the pros. Fellow outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams, a 5th round pick, signed with the New York Yankees. USC pitcher Braden Webb, drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round, is expected to sign his professional contract soon.
