FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University redshirt junior Charlie Bussey III was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round with the 328th selection of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft (MLB) on Sunday (July 12).

Bussey III, a native of Graniteville, S.C., becomes the 31st player in FMU history to either be drafted or sign a free-agent MLB contract. He joins Todd Bartoll (1981) and Dustin Sands (1999), who both signed deals with the Bay Area organization. Additionally, Bussey III is the first FMU player drafted since JD Crowe was selected in the 23rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

He entered the draft as one of the most highly coveted NCAA Division II players in recent history following a historical 2026 campaign. The 6-2, 200-pound prospect produced one of the most exceptional seasons in collegiate baseball history, winning D2 Baseball Player of the Year, Perfect Game Co-Player of the Year, and being the consensus Southeast Region Player of the Year. 

Bussey III is the only player in NCAA Division II history to register 100 hits, 100 runs scored, and 40 stolen bases in a single season. He shattered the DII record for runs scored with 118 and 1.97 runs scored per game in a season. Bussey III also finished in a tie for 10th all-time with 113 hits in a single season.

He was one of 25 players with a connection to an NCAA Division II institution picked in the 2026 draft, as nine of those student-athletes were selected directly from a DII program. He was the second-highest collegiate position player drafted out of the state of South Carolina (including Power 4 DI programs) and the second-highest non-Power 4 college position player drafted across the Carolinas (SC & NC).

Bussey III helped the Patriots set a school record for wins in 2026 as they finished with a 46-14 record and ranked seventh nationally in the final ABCA and D2 Baseball polls. He contributed to an offense that led the country with 669 runs scored while ranking among the top five in hits (739), on-base percentage (.466), scoring (11.2), stolen bases (173), and batting average (.354). The Patriots spanned a 14-year hiatus from the NCAA Tournament in 2026 and reached their first-ever Super Regional.

He is the 13th Patriot player to be drafted over the past 25 years, joining outfielder JD Crowe (selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round – pick No. 706) in 2016, infielder Barrett Kleinknecht (selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round - pick No. 374), left-handed pitcher Josh Edgin (N.Y. Mets in 30th round - No. 902), and left-handed pitcher Jeremiah Meiners (Houston Astros in 40th round - No. 1203) all in 2010; Edgin (Braves in 50th round – No. 1498) in 2009; senior center fielder Justin Greene (Chicago White Sox in 20th round - No. 600) and junior right-handed pitcher David Walters (Braves in 47th round - No. 1412) of the 2008 draft; and right-handed pitcher Dylan Owen (Mets in 20th round - No. 633) of the 2007 draft.

Also, left-handed pitcher Lee Tabor (Cincinnati Reds in 30th round - No. 894) of the 2006 draft; center fielder Quentin Davis (Braves in 13th round) of the 2005 draft; right-handed pitcher Erin Jones (Mets in 31st round) of the 2004 draft; and left-handed pitcher Hal Chafey (Cardinals in 20th round) of the 2002 draft.


  Charlie Bussey III