Fruitland – Getting drafted is a lifelong “dream come true,” Corn told the Tribune on Saturday night. “It’s good for my family. It’s good for the area.” The Mariners are a prime playoff contender. “Seattle has good (player) development — one of the best there is.”
Corn informed the Tribune that he promptly signed a deal on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Mariners’ 145-acre year-round player development facility in Peoria, Ariz., near Phoenix. That same day, he began batting and fielding practice in 107-degree dry desert heat. He had five meetings in two days.
The 2002 NHHS graduate was the 452nd overall pick. He learned he was drafted ahead of a game against the West Division-leading Forest City Owls of the Coastal Plain collegiate summer wooden bat league.
He stated that his contract guarantees a weekly salary. When asked how satisfying it feels to earn more than many do in a regular job, he replied, “100 percent!”
He aims to rise through the ranks. “I hope to end this year in low A and start in low A or high A ball out of spring training” in 2026, Corn said.
The Mariners see him strictly as an outfielder. The Mariner outfield features superstar Julio Rodriguez in center field and star Randy Arozarena. Corn mentioned that he can “read the ball off the bat very well,” allowing him to get a jump and then use his speed to reach a batted ball.
Deluxe Lead-off Hitter
Corn recently completed his junior season as the center fielder for the Western Carolina University Catamounts. He plans to take classes during the off-seasons to pursue his business management degree.
Corn was the Cats’ most frequent lead-off hitter, appearing in 31 of 57 games. He described the top of the batting order as a “great place to be. If I get on, I try my best to get to second and third and score runs.” He led WCU with 19 stolen bases in 22 attempts.
The right-hander posted an impressive batting average of .312. He hit 11 home runs (the second most on WCU) and 13 doubles, with 24 of his 69 hits being for extra bases. He recorded 47 RBIs and had multi-hit games in a third (20 of 57) of his contests.
Corn made the Southern Conference All-Tournament Team by batting .538 with three home runs among his seven hits and driving in six runs. He was named the league’s player of the week ending March 24, when he hit .533 and had three multi-hit games along with five RBIs. He achieved a remarkable .933 slugging percentage, hitting two homers.
He hit .378 and then .379 in two seasons with USC-Union.
First Knight
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Corn was a shortstop and pitcher at NHHS. He set a Knight single-season record with 30 stolen bases as a senior. He batted .481 and combined power and speed to hit three triples. His on-base percentage was .577. He cherished the “close-knit” camaraderie of the Knights.
Jackie Corn is Brayden’s second cousin and another esteemed baseball alumnus from NHHS. As head coach at West Henderson, he coached against Brayden. “Brayden has a tenacious personality. He has grit. He’s had a phenomenal work ethic since he was a young kid.”
Furthermore, he stated, “Brayden has a high IQ on the bases and great field awareness in center field. He makes things happen when on the bases.”
Brayden Corn excelled in 2022 for American Legion Asheville Post 70, which is competing this week in the state round-robin tournament.
The Catamounts’ 2025 roster also includes rival shortstop Jack Lyda, a rising sophomore from West Henderson. He was all-state when West won the state 3A title in 2023.
Whenever an area player gets drafted, it boosts others’ hopes of a pro career. “It means a lot to our entire community,” said Micah Simpson, a star pitcher/right fielder bound for UNC-Wilmington and part of three-time 4A state champion T.C. Roberson. His American Legion Post 70 team reached the legion’s state tournament this week.
NHHS Draftee Trio
Corn is the third NHHS Knight reaching the MLB Draft Roundtable. The prior two played for UNC-Chapel Hill. Right fielder Seth Williams was selected by the Mets in the 40th/final round in 2008. Infielder Zack Gahagan, now 30, was the Reds’ round 39 pick in 2017. Neither reached the majors.
The highest-drafted local player ever is Cameron Maybin from T.C. Roberson. He went tenth pick to Detroit in 2005 draft. The WNC native currently performing best in MLB is catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB in home runs and won the All-Star Game home run derby last week.