2 former Gaston College pitchers make history with major league draft selection and major league free agent signing

Gaston College's baseball program has been successful since it was restarted in the fall of 2021.

The Rhinos added more chapters when 2022 standout pitcher Gus Hughes was selected in the 18th round (No. 541 overall) by the New York Yankees on the third day of the major league draft on July 17 and 2023 standout pitcher Derek Vartanian signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves the day after the draft concluded.

Hughes transferred to Gaston College from UNC Charlotte in January 2022 and made an immediate impact on the Rhinos' first-year program.

"Gus really came through for us," Gaston College athletic director and baseball coach Shohn Doty said. "He made some small adjustments and he learned the slider that he still uses. And his curveball has always been above average and I understand why pro scouts would be impressed.
"He was great for us, obviously, and then had an unbelieveable career at High Point. (Head) coach (Joey) Hammond and (pitching) coach Jerry Edwards did a great job with him.
"I'm just excited for him to get an opportunity to keep playing."

As of member of coach Loren Hibbs' coaching staff for the Charlotte 49ers, Doty was a member of the coaching staff that originally recruited Hughes out of Greensboro's Grimsley High School.

With the Gaston College program, Hughes went 8-1 with a 2.17 ERA and threw the first no-hitter in school history among his 12 appearances (10 starts) to earn All-Region 10 honors.

When Hughes transferred, he went 12-9 with a 4.30 ERA in 30 career starts - with six wins each season - and was All-Big South this past spring while also helping the Panthers advance to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.

Vartanian transferred to Gaston College from Guilford Tech in September 2023 and quickly emerged as a top pitcher for a Rhinos team that would win the Region 10 title, the National Junior College Athletic Association East District title and advance to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Col.

"It's been a crazy journey for him," Doty said of Vartanian. "But we're really excited he's getting an opportunity to play professional baseball."

For Gaston College, Vartanian went 9-1 with two saves and a 3.08 ERA in 19 appearances (12 starts) to earn All-Region 10 honors.

This past spring at Campbell - and after Camels' coach Justin Haire said he has emerged into a major league baseball draft prospect - a shoulder injury derailed his season after he started 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts.

The Braves organization knew of Vartanian's injury when they signed him and are willing to sit him out for a full year while he rehabs his injury at their Venice, Fla., training facility.

"He signed a contract and will be in their organization even though he won't pitch next year," Doty said. "They're not rushing him and it's a great deal for him.

Both players have matched school firsts set by Cherryville's Alan Lindsay.

Lindsay, who still holds the school's career strikeout record with 156 in the 1970 and 1971 seasons, was a ninth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970 and later became the first professional signee in 1972 when he signed a free agent contract with the Houston Astros.

"For us, having Gus get drafted and having Derek sign is something that continues to add to our resume," said Doty, who has guided the Rhinos to a 142-30 record in three seasons. "So this is another success that our program has had.
"The credit goes to the kids and our coaching staff. We talk about bringing in the right kind of guys and the development process all the time so I'm just really proud of him and look forward to following their careers."