LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC – Three former Lexington County Blowfish players appear on three different Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters, as Chas McCormick, JP Sears and Connor Thomas will begin the 2025 season with their respective big clubs.
McCormick, a member of the 2016 Blowfish squad from Millersville, is on the Houston Astros' Opening Day roster for the fifth consecutive season. McCormick is expected to rotate among the Astros outfielders this season.
McCormick hit .211 with six doubles, a triple, five homers and 27 RBIs in 242 at bats in 2024.
Sears, who played for the Blowfish in 2016 as well out of The Citadel, is entering his fourth season with the Athletics, which will play its home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento this year. Sears is slated to be part of the Athletics' rotation again. His first scheduled start is Sunday, March 30 in the season-opening series finale at the Seattle Mariners.
Sears was 11-13 with a 4.38 ERA for the A's a year ago after making 32 starts.
Thomas is a newcomer to the MLB level after being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 Draft prior to the 2025 campaign. Thomas, who played with the Blowfish in 2017 out of Georgia Tech, is yet to make his MLB debut, but will begin the year in the Brewers' bullpen.
Thomas spent the 2024 season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He posted a 7-4 record with a 2.89 ERA in 90.1 innings.
In addition to the three Major Leaguers, 20 other former Blowfish will compete in the Minor Leagues to start the 2025 season. Below is a current list of former Blowfish in Minor League Baseball.
Triple-A
Wes Clarke (2020) - Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers)
Shane Drohan (2018) - Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)
Brett Kerry (2020) - Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels)
Double-A
Brady Allen (2020) - Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers)
TJ Hopkins (2016) - Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers)
Brennan Milone (2020) - Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics)
RJ Petit (2020) - Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers)
Will Sanders (2021) - Knoxville Smokies (Chicago Cubs)
High-A
Tyler Bradt (2021) - Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals)
Magdiel Cotto (2021) - Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Brody Hopkins (2021) - Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays)
Tatem Levins (2020) - Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays)
Jalen Vasquez (2021) - Aberdeen IronBirds (Baltimore Orioles)
Brock Vradenburg (2021 & ‘22) - Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins)
Single-A
Billy Amick (2022) - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins)
Cade Austin (2021) - Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees)
Michael Watson (2022 & '23) - Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
Rookie
Cole Mathis (2022) - ACL Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
Trey Pooser (2022) - FCL Rays (Tampa Bay Rays)
Currently Unassigned
Lebarron Johnson Jr. (2021) - (Colorado Rockies)
Currently Injured
Mack Anglin (2020) - Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals)
William Privette (2021) - ACL Rangers (Texas Rangers)