Top prospect chooses MSU over MLB

A top baseball prospect from Brandon High school has spurned the bright lights of Los Angeles for Starkville to follow his dream.

J.T. Ginn, a right-handed pitcher, was selected 30th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft by the LA Dodgers, but instead of signing his contract, he has opted to stay true to his commitment to the Bulldogs.

Ginn made his announcement on Instagram, stating that it has been a “lifelong dream” to play baseball for the Bulldogs.

After being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round, I had a lot to think about over the last month. My ultimate goal is to one day play in the Major Leagues, and the draft provided one path to that goal. College baseball offered another path. I am grateful for both opportunities, and after giving it a lot of thought I have decided to pursue my lifelong dream of playing college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs!!! #HAILSTATE #OMADAWGS

A post shared by J.T. Ginn (@jtginn3) on Jul 5, 2018 at 6:01pm PDT

The recommended slot bonus for Ginn, if he had chosen to sign with LA, would’ve been close to $2.3 million. Ginn’s draft profile showed why he was selected in the first round, and what type of talent the Bulldogs are getting. According to MLB.com, Ginn’s fastball hovers around 95-97 and it has reached 99 this spring.

The 6’2 pitcher also hit 16 home runs this past season.

There aren’t many too many first-round picks that turn down their chance at the big leagues, but now it’s up to Ginn and new head coach Chris Lemonis to make the most of the decision.