Gamecock southpaw who started games last year to miss 2020 season after surgery
The start of the season is still two weeks away, but South Carolina baseball is already down a left-handed pitcher — sophomore Dylan Harley is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, a team spokesperson confirmed Friday, ending his year.
Harley started five games and made 22 total appearances as a freshman, with a 3-4 record and 9.58 ERA. He was in the Gamecocks’ opening weekend rotation against Liberty after an impressive fall and preseason in which he reached mid 90s with his fastball.
After that, however, he mostly came out of the bullpen, picking up his first career win in a midweek game against Furman while going 3 2/3 innings. He finished the season with 52 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings, but also 30 walks and 40 hits allowed.
In 2020, Harley was expected to stay in the bullpen and compete for innings. Without him, there are five left-handed pitchers on USC’s roster, including two-way players Josiah Sightler and Julian Bosnic. None of them are expected to start on the weekend — right-handers Carmen Mlodzinski and Brett Kerry have the inside track on two of the rotation spots, coach Mark Kingston has said, while JUCO transfers Thomas Farr and Brannon Jordan are considered the top contenders for the last spot.
Pitching injuries decimated the Gamecocks in 2019, part of the reason for USC’s disappointing 28-28 season. Kingston has expressed optimism, however, in the depth of this year’s staff.
South Carolina baseball opens its 2020 season on Feb. 14 against Holy Cross. First pitch at Founders Park is scheduled for 4 p.m. Preseason scrimmages are set for this upcoming weekend, starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with a time to be determined for Monday.
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 1:42 PM.
