Update: Tomasovich brothers make Fort Mill baseball history; younger brother signs with MLB's Oakland A's
With the 638th pick in this year’s Major League Baseball first-year player draft, the Oakland A’s made history – probably unknowingly.
The A’s selected left-handed pitcher Andrew Tomasovich, a 2012 Fort Mill High graduate and a junior at Charleston Southern University. Tomasovich and his brother, Alex, who was selected last year by the Chicago Cubs, become the first brothers from Fort Mill High that were drafted by Major League organizations.
They were also teammates at Charleston Southern.
“That is special,” Andrew Tomasovich said. “It’s a cool thing to be a part of.”
Andrew Tomasovich was selected in the 21st round. Alex, an infielder, was selected in the 20th round – pick No. 589 – last year.
The younger Tomasovich went 7-7 in 15 games during his junior season for Charleston Southern. He had a 3.09 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 87.1 innings pitched. For his career at the school, he is 14-15 with a save and a 3.80 ERA, striking out 177 in 210.2 innings pitched.
Tomasovich officially signed with the A’s on Friday and will be entering the minor leagues instead of going back to school for his senior year. Tomasovich is scheduled to report to Oakland's Mesa, Ariz., affiliate in the Rookie League.
He said he knew there was a good chance he was going to be picked during the three-day draft.
“I went in the draft expending to be selected by the A’s or Kansas City,” he said. “I am really happy to get started.”
Tomasovich becomes the 12th Fort Mill High graduate to be taken in the Major League draft. If he goes into the minor leagues, he will join Kevin Woods (2013) as recent graduates in the minors. A Fort Mill High graduate has been selected in the Major League draft for three straight years.
Alex Tomasovich is currently playing in the Frontier League, an independent baseball league, after being released by the Cubs organization last September.
“Hopefully, he will get a chance to get play again soon,” Andrew said, regarding his brother.
This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Update: Tomasovich brothers make Fort Mill baseball history; younger brother signs with MLB's Oakland A's."