CONWAY — For a Coastal Carolina University baseball program that is ready to write the next chapter, the July 11-12 Major League Baseball draft read a lot like “A Farewell to Arms.”
Three former Coastal pitchers were selected over the weekend, including 6-foot-6 righthander Cameron Flukey in the first round (22nd overall) to the Detroit Tigers. On Day 2 of the draft, Flukey was joined by fellow pitchers Ross Norman (11th round, 320th) and Darin Horn (16th, 465th).
“I can’t wait for the opportunity to see what I can do at the next level,” Flukey said in June, ending his three-year Chanticleer career on a sour note by being limited to only 24 innings work due to rib injury. “This has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember.”
As the No. 22 overall pick, Flukey dethroned former battery-mate Caden Bodine (30th in 2025) as the school’s highest-ever draft selection. Flukey’s pick also marked another milestone for the Coastal program, making it 30 consecutive years that a Chanticleer player has been drafted.
Former Coastal Carolina pitcher Ross Norman was taken in the 11th round (320th overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
Provided/CCU Athletics
Transferring to Coastal from Georgia Southern prior to the 2026 season, Norman earned a spot in the weekend starting rotation and ranked second on the team in wins (six) and innings pitched (78.0). The 6-foot-7 righthander struck out 65 batters over his 16 starts.
Horn capped a stellar five-year career at Coastal by earning consensus All-American honors as one of the nation’s top relievers. The 6-foot-4 righthander finished the season with an 8-2 record, seven saves and a 3.21 ERA across 31 appearances out of the bullpen. He struck out 93 batters in 67.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .241 batting average.
Former Coastal Carolina pitcher Darin Horn was taken in the 16th round (465th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Provided/CCU Athletics
For his Coastal career, Horn appeared in 88 games and posted a 16-6 record with seven saves while striking out 213 batters in 166.2 innings pitched. He helped the Chanticleers reach three NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the 2025 College World Series Finals.
The MLB selections come amid a tumultuous time for the Chants, who lost coach Kevin Schnall to the University of South Carolina on June 9, followed by a mass exodus in the transfer portal. Coastal was left with only four players on its roster before the June 12 hiring of Chris Lemonis, who has quickly hired his coaching staff and recruited a new roster.