Michael Braswell, 2-year USC baseball starter, announces plans to transfer
A day after its season ended, South Carolina baseball is losing a key contributor to the transfer portal.
Sophomore infielder Michael Braswell announced Sunday that he is leaving the Gamecocks program. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
He posted this message to Twitter: “Thank You for all the memories for me and my family for these last 2 years. I will ALWAYS be grateful for all the opportunities you have given me. With that being said I would like to announce that I plan on entering the transfer portal to continue my college career.”
Braswell was a key player for the Gamecocks after initially starting the season as a reserve. He played in 51 games this season and hit .255 with a homer and 23 RBIs.
Braswell played shortstop as a freshman, but Braylen Wimmer was the starter there after deciding to return for a final season. The Georgia native tried to a move to third, but Talmadge LeCroy won that battle.
With injuries to Wimmer and LeCroy and second baseman Will McGillis during the year, Braswell’s versatility became a huge plus for Mark Kingston’s squad, and ended up starting 37 games.
“My goal is to do what I can to help us win,” Braswell said during a press conference last month. “Whether it being played third, shortstop or second, I believe in my ability to move around the infield in different ways. I just will do whatever it takes. If it is me batting ninth, leadoff, the goal is to drive in runs and keep the line moving.”
One of the moments that kick-started his season was when he came off the bench and delivered a game-winning RBI to help the Gamecocks sweep Georgia back in March. He also had a walk-off hit against Missouri on March 24.
Braswell played and started in 54 games as a freshman in 2022 and earned all-SEC honors. He also was one of the first college players to sign with rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation sports agency. He was the fifth-ranked played coming out of Georgia in Class of 2021 by Perfect Game.
Braswell’s departure will unlikely be the last one by a USC player. The Gamecocks were busy in the transfer potal last year and three players have announced they are transferring to USC next year in VMI’s Zac Morris, North Florida outfielder Austin Brinling and Presbyterian’s Dalton Reeves.
South Carolina is coming off a 42-21 season and lost to Florida in the Super Regional.
This story was originally published June 11, 2023 at 6:10 PM.
