From as north as Toronto to as south as San Diego, five Trojans will begin their professional baseball careers as 2024 MLB draftees.
While USC’s 2024 baseball campaign was turbulent and underachieving, the roster featured no shortage of talent on the mound, in the field and at the plate. With five picks, this was the most successful the Trojans have been in the MLB Draft since 2019 when they had seven players selected, and USC continued its run of having a draft pick in every draft in MLB history, now with 354 players chosen all-time.
On the pitching side, right-handers William Watson and Josh Blum were both selected by the New York Mets, effectively continuing their careers together.
For position players, outfielder Austin Overn and infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek will each join American League East organizations in the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, respectively, while infielder Ryan Jackson will remain in Southern California as a member of the San Diego Padres organization.
Round 3, No. 97 overall, Baltimore Orioles: OF Austin Overn
Overn immediately broke out as a freshman in 2023, setting USC’s single-season triples record with 14 while receiving Freshman All-American honors and receiving multiple Pac-12 awards.
While he started slow in 2024, the speedy outfielder still led the team in home runs with eight and was a massive part of the Trojans’ winning surge heading into the Pac-12 Tournament, as he tallied 14 hits in the final seven regular season contests. Across his two years with USC, he slashed .291/.376/.495.
In Baltimore’s system — one that has successfully produced a variety of slugging major leaguers in recent years — Overn will aim to exert his high-motor five-tool potential and make a name for himself. He possesses pure athleticism that aids him on the basepaths and in the outfield, has raw power and can put the ball in play consistently.
As highly touted as he was following his freshman year, getting picked on day two wasn’t the original outlook on Overn. But for the former dual-sport athlete, he’ll look to elevate his game in the professional system following a 2024 season that wasn’t as electric as 2023.
Round 7, No. 203 overall, New York Mets: RHP William Watson
Watson’s versatility in 2024 grabbed the attention of MLB scouts, as he transitioned from the bullpen to a starting role amid a period of injuries. The righty became a vital piece of USC’s success down the stretch, leading the team to a win in each of his final three appearances.
Watson compiled a sub-4.00 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 2024 and earned a crucial quality start in the Pac-12 Tournament against Oregon in which he struck out seven hitters and allowed just one earned run in six innings.
The Mets have a pretty average farm system and will look for value in a pick like Watson. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he doesn’t have the biggest frame but will aim to continue developing himself into a starter with his flaming fastball. His offspeed options will be his main area for development and he’ll want to focus on durability as he molds into longer outings.
Round 16, No. 473 overall, New York Mets: RHP Josh Blum
Blum rapidly improved his pitching over his three years at USC, exponentially decreasing his ERA and posting an impressive 1.87 mark as the team’s closer in 2024. He had 10 saves while striking out 45 batters and keeping walks under control in over 33 innings of work.
The righty was lights-out for the Trojans until a fateful night on May 25 — the Pac-12 Championship game against Arizona. Blum allowed the Wildcats to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth inning in a tied game, which ended USC’s season on a negative note. But that one hiccup shouldn’t overshadow his dominant year.
Blum will join Watson in the Mets’ system and will hope to translate his impressive marks over to the professional side.
Round 17, No. 510 overall, San Diego Padres: INF Ryan Jackson
Jackson was one of USC’s most reliable hitters after transferring to the team from Nevada before the 2023 season. Across 116 games with the Trojans, Jackson slashed .307/.418/.414 and led the team’s qualified hitters with a .324 batting average in 2024.
He set the tone in USC’s Pac-12 Tournament bout with Oregon, crushing a homer to put the team on the board, leading to a Pac-12 All-Tournament team selection and striking the notice of major-league scouts.
The Padres have a solid prospect pool, so Jackson will look to continue exerting his power and consistent ability when he begins his road to the show.
Round 20, No. 607 overall, Toronto Blue Jays: INF Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek
Son of one-time All-Star Mark Grudzielanek, Martin-Grudzielanek was a final-round pick following a mixed 2024 campaign in which he missed significant time. Nonetheless, he still hit .284/.369/.405 in the 20 games he played.
Martin-Grudzielanek showed his pop in 2023 with seven homers in what was a sound breakout year after transferring over from UCLA.
He’ll join a Blue Jays prospect room that isn’t the most stacked, so although he was among the final draft picks, he’ll hope to prove himself in the professional scene should he sign and forgo his remaining college eligibility.