South Carolina pitcher Jordan Propst, shown pitching batting practice for Post 109 , was drafted in the 49th round by Kansas City. The Gaffney resident is enrolled in pharmacy school at USC. File Photo Gaffney’s Jordan Propst has a decision to make.

The University of South Carolina pitcher was taken in the 49th round by the Kansas City Royals in last week’s Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Propst, though, is well on his way to a degree in pharmacy and hopes to complete his degree come fall.

If Propst doesn’t sign with the Royals, he would be eligible to be drafted again next year.

Complicating the matter even more is that professional teams are barred from making a contract offer until the end of the collegiate season. Propst and the Gamecocks could extend their season even longer by beating Coastal Carolina and earning a trip to the College World Series.

“It’s still 50-50,” Propst said. “I have talked to the deans of (the pharmacy school) and they support me in whatever I want to do.”

Propst said if he opts to sign with the Royals, he would be granted a leave of absence from school. Propst’s improbable path from a reliable starting high school pitcher to major league prospect reads like a Hollywood script.

After graduation from Gaffney High, Propst enrolled at South Carolina with his full focus on academics. However, his body and goals soon changed. After adding bulk to his lanky frame and miles per hour to his fastball, he decided to try out for the national power Gamecocks as a walk-on.

He made the roster and enjoyed some success. This year, though, his season was cut short when he tore a ligament and muscle in his throwing elbow in his second appearance of the season.

The injury, which didn’t require surgery, didn’t scare off Royals scout Casey Fhay.

“(The Royals) had been in contact with me for a couple of weeks,” Propst said. “Before the draft, they called me and said to keep my phone on me (during the draft).”

Propst said the Royals were intrigued by his big frame and live arm.

“They were willing to take a gamble,” he said.

But the Royals apparently wanted more of a sure thing and informed Propst on the day of the draft that he was no longer on their draft board.

So, Propst stopped following the draft online, grabbed his cap and glove and drove to the ball park to continue his rehab work. While in the locker room, he was interrupted by a group of happy teammates who said he was selected by the Kansas City Royals.

“I thought they were messin’ with me,” he said.

He received confirmation a few minutes later in a call from the Royals.

“I will try to do the best thing for school and baseball,” Propst said. “I just

don’t know quite what it is.”