From the Lexington County Blowfish
Photo by Lexington County Blowfish – Billy Amick
The “road to the Major Leagues starts here.”
It’s the unofficial motto of the Lexington County Blowfish. Since its inception in Columbia and through today, the Coastal Plain League organization has served to mold college players into future professionals on the diamond.
The success level of these players has seen 15 players signed to Major League teams. In 2021, Chas McCormick became the first former Blowfish to win a World Series ring with the Houston Astros.
Others have posted All-Star worthy numbers or established themselves as vital players sought in trades.
There are currently three former Blowfish on MLB rosters:
Shane Drohan (2018 Blowfish) – Milwaukee Brewers
20 G, 10 GS, 5-3, 1 SV, 3.20 ERA, 76.0 IP, 76 K, 1.18 WHIP
Drohan set a career high with nine strikeouts in the July 18 win against Miami, working six innings and scattering five hits.
RJ Petit (2020 Blowfish) – Colorado Rockies
Petit had Tommy John surgery prior to the season and has been sidelined the entire year. He remains the Rockies’ No. 27 prospect.
JP Sears (2016 Blowfish) – San Diego Padres
4 G, 4 GS, 2-2, 5.03 ERA, 19.2 IP, 17 K, 1.42 WHIP
Sears returned to the Padres roster June 23, making four starts in just under a month.
This past month saw three former Blowfish sign free agent contracts:
Will Holmes (2024 Blowfish) – Atlanta Braves
Talmadge LeCroy (2022 Blowfish) – Colorado Rockies
Tristan Bissetta (2022, 2023 Blowfish) – St. Louis Cardinals
Meanwhile, there’s a legion of former Blowfish working their way through the minor leagues:
Triple-A
Brody Hopkins (2022 Blowfish) – Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)
19 G, 16 GS, 4-7, 4.52 ERA, 77.2 IP, 95 K, 1.60 WHIP
Hopkins is the No. 4 overall prospect for the Rays, and the organization’s top pitching prospect.
Brett Kerry (2020 Blowfish) – Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels)
MLB: 1 G, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2 K, 1.00 WHIP | MiLB: 18 G, 15 GS, 3-6, 7.56 ERA, 81.0 IP, 79 K, 1.85 WHIP
Kerry made his MLB debut June 17, 2026, for the Angels in a relief appearance.
Tatem Levins (2020 Blowfish) – Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)
60 G, .243/.325/.432 (.757 OPS), 10 HR, 9 2B, 42 RBI, 26 R, 3 SB
Chas McCormick (2016 Blowfish) – Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
57 G, .255/.349/.433 (.782 OPS), 9 HR, 10 2B, 34 RBI, 37 R, 6 SB
Will Sanders (2020 Blowfish) – Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
15 G, 13 GS, 6-2, 4.68 ERA, 59.2 IP, 63 K, 1.39 WHIP
TJ Shook (2017, 2018 Blowfish) – Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies)
MLB: 4 G, 0-0, 9.53 ERA, 5.2 IP, 6 K, 1.94 WHIP | MiLB: 31 G, 3-2, 3.52 ERA, 38.1 IP, 41 K, 1.28 WHIP
The Dutch Fork graduate made his MLB debut June 2 with the Rockies.
Connor Thomas (2017 Blowfish) – Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves)
MLB: 1 G, 0-0, 3.2 IP, 2 K, 1.64 WHIP | MiLB: 16 G, 2 GS, 2-0, 1 SV, 36.0 IP, 31 K, 0.97 WHIP
Double-A
Billy Amick (2022 Blowfish) – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota Twins)
79 G, .212/.332/.465 (.797 OPS), 20 HR, 13 2B, 66 RBI, 2 SB
The W.W. King Academy graduate is the No. 22 overall prospect for the Twins.
Tyler Bradt (2021 Blowfish) – Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
8 G, 3-1, 11.57 ERA, 7.0 IP, 7 K, 3.14 WHIP
Brennan Milone (2020 Blowfish) – Midland RockHounds (Athletics)
69 G, .234/.385/.383 (.768 OPS), 7 HR, 14 2B, 1 3B, 43 RBI, 5 SB
Ethan Petry (2023 Blowfish) – Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals)
70 G, .266/.360/.494 (.854 OPS), 15 HR, 14 2B, 46 RBI, 5 SB
Petry is the No. 13 overall prospect for the Nationals.
Michael Watson (2022, 2023 Blowfish) – Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
31 G, 3-3, 5.73 ERA, 37.2 IP, 53 K, 1.81 WHIP
High-A
Cade Austin (2021 Blowfish) – Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins)
7 G, 1 GS, 0-0, 3.09 ERA, 11.2 IP, 13 K, 1.03 WHIP
Lebarron Johnson Jr. (2021 Blowfish) – Spokane Indians (Colorado Rockies)
12 G, 9 GS, 1-4, 4.82 ERA, 52.1 IP, 45 K, 1.41 WHIP
Cole Mathis (2022 Blowfish) – Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets)
39 G, .272/.396/.585 (.981 OPS), 10 HR, 12 2B, 2 3B, 39 RBI, 7 SB
Mathis was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Mets on June 25. He is the No. 14 overall prospect for the Mets.
Trey Pooser (2022 Blowfish) – Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals)
16 G, 3 GS, 7-1, 3.44 ERA, 49.2 IP, 43 K, 1.07 WHIP
Pooser was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 17.
Single-A
William Privette (2021 Blowfish) – Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers)
37 G, 1 GS, 3-3, 5 SV, 4.00 ERA, 45.0 IP, 59 K, 1.36 WHIP
Cal Riehl (2024 Blowfish) – Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres)
17 G, 0-1, 5.16 ERA, 22.2 IP, 21 K, 1.72 WHIP
Jersey Auction set
for home finale
Saturday night at Lexington County Baseball Stadium will serve as a final night of “Appreciation”.
The Blowfish will hold “Fan Appreciation Night” to cap off its 11th regular season in Lexington. They will face the Forest City Owls in a contest they hope will also have significant meaning in the Coastal Plain League standings.
As part of “Fan Appreciation Night”, Lexington County will don its commemorative jerseys celebrating the country’s 250th birthday a final time against the Forest City Owls. This will also mark the conclusion of the online season-long auction at www.blowfishbaseball.com.
Fans can still place bids on the 42 jerseys available. Proceeds from the auction will benefit charitable auctions in Lexington County.
LEXINGTON COUNTY BLOWFISH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY – MACON BACON 7:05 p.m.
FRIDAY – at Florence Flamingos 7 p.m./CATAWBA VALLEY STARS 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY – FOREST CITY OWLS 7:05 p.m.
