CHARLESTON, S.C. Chris McGuiness, who led the nation in walks this past season, has decided to forego his senior year and sign a professional contract after being drafted in the 13th round of the MLB First Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox.

McGuiness will leave the Thomasville HiToms in the collegiate summer wooden bat Coastal Plains League and join the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said McGuiness. “I've met a lot of good people and learned a lot of important things in my three years at The Citadel. I hope the qualities that I've been taught at The Citadel will help me excel at the next level, both on and off the field.”

In three years with The Citadel, McGuiness hit .308 in 154 games played with a .537 slugging percentage. He will finish seventh in the school's career charts with 27 home runs and was one walk shy of reaching the school's top-10 charts in career bases on balls.

In the 2009 season, McGuiness led the nation with 65 walks and his 15 home runs was second on the team and tied for seventh in school history. McGuiness was among the national leaders in walks per game and on-base percentage.

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