Former Owl Marty Gantt Drafted by Tampa Bay
Published on June 6, 2012 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
Forest City, NC- For all the players selected in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, there are just as many unique stories as to how they got there. For Marty Gantt, that road has certainly been a winding one, starting out at the very beginning. Gantt was born without a fully developed right hand, which leaves unable to properly grip a bat as he swings left-handed. However, that has not in any way diminished his ability to play the game, which was made abundantly clear when the Tampa Bay Rays selected Gantt with the 242nd overall pick in the 7th round of the draft.
"I looked at it as a positive," said Gantt's coach Monte Lee from the College of Charleston. "I think it's been a driving force for him every step of the way." Lee has been in contact with Gantt since he was recruiting him for the University of South Carolina as a 16-year old. Former Owls assistant coach Mike Ranson said that Gantt was, "easily the best player in the state of South Carolina," coming out of high school.
Unfortunately for Gantt, though he committed to play for the Gamecocks, he didn't qualify and instead played at Spartanburg Methodist College, where he was an all-region player for two seasons. That led to another opportunity to play for Lee, this time at Charleston. "We kept recruiting him," said Lee, who said that the minute you watch Gantt play, you forget all about his disfigurement.
"He's a throwback type of player," said Lee. "His makeup is off the charts." Gantt rewarded that faith by leading the Cougars with a .373 average, a .483 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage. Gantt also led the team with 29 stolen bases, en route to being named the Southern Conference Player of the Year and a 3rd team Louisville Slugger all-American.
Gantt spent two seasons with the Owls in the Coastal Plain League. Though he served as both a left-handed pitcher and hitter in college, he primarily played the outfield for Forest City. Gantt finished with a .239 average in his two years with the Owls.
Now, Gantt moves on to an organization in the Rays, with a terrific track record for developing prospects. Lee says that no matter what the situation, he believes Gantt will succeed. "I certainly expect him to play in the big leagues," said Lee. "He plays the game the right way and will make others around him better."
Notes: Gantt was not the only former Owl drafted in the first 15 rounds. Former Forest City catcher Craig Manuel was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 10th round. Manuel, out of Rice University, batted .330 in 29 games with the Owls last season.
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