High School Sports

Ex-MLB pitcher Seth McClung named Ashbrook High baseball coach in Gastonia

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Seth McClung is the new baseball coach at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia. McClung, 44, is uncle of two-time NBA slam dunk champion Mac McClung. McClung, a two-time high school All-American at Greenbrier East (WV), was drafted in the fifth round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He played seven seasons for Tampa Bay and Milwaukee and had a total of 16 professional seasons from 1999-2014 that also included a stop in Triple A Durham.

McClung finished his MLB career with a 26-35 record, 346 strikeouts and a 5.46 earned run average.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Seth McClung (73) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Chicago Cubs third baseman Jake Fox (background right) during the first inning at Wrigley Field in July 2009.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Seth McClung (73) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Chicago Cubs third baseman Jake Fox (background right) during the first inning at Wrigley Field in July 2009. Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports

Growing up, McClung lived in Cramerton, in Gaston County, and attended Cramerton Junior High before moving out of state. Before going to Ashbrook, McClung coached the baseball team for two seasons at Tarpon Springs (Fla.) High, taking a team that was 6-21 the season before he began to 30 wins in two years. In the previous 10 years,, Tarpon Springs was 61-159. Last spring, McClung led Tarpon Springs to a district runner-up finish.

Ashbrook will host a meet-and-greet with McClung on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the school’s conference room.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM.

Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription
Sports Pass is your ticket to Charlotte sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER