2018 Draft - Mets Pick #5: RHP Ryley Gilliam - Clemson - ***NEW INFO***

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TigerNet.com –

           Clemson junior right-handed pitcher Ryley Gilliam was tabbed among five 2018 MLB draftees to make the Major League level the fastest by MLB.com.

"Another reliever who dominated college hitters this spring, Gilliam is a small guy with a quick arm that produces one of the better curveballs in this Draft," MLB.com's Jim Callis writes, "not to mention 91-96 mph fastballs. The Clemson product has an up-tempo delivery with some funkiness that adds deception, though it also can hamper his command at times."

Gilliam was selected with the 140th overall pick in the fifth round by the New York Mets on Tuesday. He earned All-American honors last season at Clemson with 11 saves and a 1.41 ERA.

For Team USA last summer, Gilliam didn't surrender an earned run in 8 1/3 innings with a .148 opponent batting average, nine strikeouts and three saves.

Marieta Daily Journal –

           Gilliam started off as Hansen’s go-to starter before transitioning into more of a shutdown closer. With a strong fastball and a curveball that “drops off of a cliff” according to Hansen, Gilliam has seen his success carry over into the collegiate ranks at Clemson.

           Gilliam has been one of the most dominant closers in college baseball. He has 11 saves on the season, having allowed just four earned runs in 37 innings for a 0.97 ERA and .157 batting average against.

If Gilliam is drafted high enough and chooses to skip his senior season at Clemson, Hansen feels he is destined to have a successful career in the professional ranks, due in large part to the experience he has been able to gain at the college level. Hansen said playing college ball does as much to help refine a player’s mental game as anything can.

          

Baseball Draft Report –

           I love Ryley Gilliam, one of the draft’s clear top relief prospects. He’s always had a quality heater (88-94, up to 96) and a plus breaking ball (77-81 curve), and he’s now added a hard upper-80s cutter with legitimate plus upside. Two fun names have come up when talking Gilliam: Will Clinard from Vanderbilt and Scott Bittle from Ole Miss. Bittle is one of my all-time favorite draft prospects and a really intriguing recent “what if” among prospect obsessives, so hearing that named tied to Gilliam is pretty damn exciting.     

Clemson -

Clemson junior right-hander Ryley Gilliam was selected as the 140th overall pick in the fifth round of the MLB draft by the New York Mets on Tuesday.

Gilliam earned All-American honors with an 11-save junior campaign, going 3-3 with a 1.41 ERA. He posted 54 strikeouts to 22 walks in 38 1/3 innings.

The No. 140 pick has a slotted contract of $379,400.

Gilliam was a standout performer for Team USA last summer, not surrendering an earned run in 8 1/3 innings with a .148 opponent batting average, nine strikeouts and three saves.

He has logged 15 career saves with 120 strikeouts over three seasons.

Gilliam will have until July 15 to be signed to a pro contract.

Gilliam is a third Palmetto State university product to be selected by the Mets, joining former Gamecocks Carlos Cortes (2B) and Adam Hill (RHP).

He is a second Clemson junior to be selected in the top-150, joining first-round selection Seth Beer, who was picked by the Houston Astros No. 28 overall.