The Tampa Bay Rays selected RHP Taylor Guerrieri from Spring Valley HS (Columbia, S.C.) with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

1 (24) GUERRIERI, Taylor - RHP
School: Spring Valley (S.C.) HS
Born: 12/1/1992
B/T: R/R
HT/WT: 6-3/195

 • First name is Christopher but goes by Taylor.
 • Rated by Baseball America as No. 10 overall prospect, the No. 7 pitcher and the best fastball among high school pitchers.
 • Was named to the Third Team of the 2011 Preseason Baseball America All-America Team.
 • Becomes the fourth straight high school player taken with the Rays first overall pick (2008-2011) and the first righthanded pitcher taken with the Rays first pick since Wade Townsend in 2005.
 • As a senior at Spring Valley HS (Columbia, S.C.) went 6-1 with a 1.10 ERA in 9 games this season, including 3 complete games.
 • Allowed just 24 hits and 23 walks while striking out 72 batters in 51 innings of work.
 • Also batted .507 (38-for-75) with nine homers and 34 RBI, primarily at third base.
 • Committed to the University of South Carolina.
 • Guerrieri's father played catch with balled-up socks while Taylor was still in a crib and says Taylor helped "coach" his older sister's travel softball team when he was just 2 years old.
 • His sister was a member of the United States Air Force. She is currently in law school and intends on joining the Navy SEALS.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.