Looking toward 2024: Who’s staying and who’s going for South Carolina baseball?
The South Carolina baseball team bounced back in 2023, earning its first super regional bid since the 2018 season.
In his sixth year at the helm, Mark Kingston led the Gamecocks to the best record (42-21) of his tenure, retooling the roster after the 2022 team missed the postseason.
Though USC’s season ended in the Gainesville Super Regional, the Gamecocks should have a foundation on which to build moving forward.
Here’s a snapshot at the players who are projected to stay and leave this offseason.
Who’s staying for USC?
First, the good news: The Gamecocks should return a strong position-player nucleus for next season, barring any unexpected transfers — which is always possible in the current climate.
Let’s start with the star duo of catcher Cole Messina and outfielder Ethan Petry.
Down the stretch of the season, Kingston said he thought Messina was the best catcher in the country and the “heart and soul” of the Gamecock locker room, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. He slashed .307/.428/.615 and hit 17 homers, while providing leadership behind the dish. The freshman Petry, meanwhile, led the team with a .376 average and 23 home runs and said in Gainesville that he hopes to take a leadership role alongside Messina next year.
Third baseman Talamadge LeCroy is another key starter who should return, who doesn’t have the power of Petry or Messina but hit .289/.430/.422 and was a steady contributor. It’s possible veteran Gavin Casas also returns. The first baseman transferred from Vanderbilt and slugged 19 home runs. Though Casas is draft-eligible, he struggled late in conference play and scouts have questions about his bat speed. His return would be a boost for the Gamecocks, though it’s not certain.
Outfielder/infielder Will Tippett and center fielder Evan Stone project to return, as well, with Tippett showcasing his versatility and athleticism late in his freshman season playing second base and center field.
The pitching staff will have a fewer familiar faces, but a few key ones. Right-hander Eli Jones, who started and pitched valuable innings out of the bullpen, should return and compete for a weekend rotation sport, as should left-hander Matthew Becker. Right-hander Roman Kimball, a transfer from Notre Dame, didn’t pitch this season due to Tommy John surgery but could also be in the weekend rotation mix.
The Gamecocks will also bring in reinforcements through a recruiting class that ranks 25th in the country on Perfect Game.
Who’s leaving USC?
The transfer portal has already claimed sophomore infielder Michael Braswell, and it’s always possible others jump into the portal, too.
Otherwise, the Gamecocks will lose several key pieces through graduation and, likely, through the MLB Draft.
Most notably, USC projects to lose its entire weekend rotation to the draft, with Jack Mahoney, Noah Hall and Will Sanders all eligible this summer. Projected as high as the first round, Sanders’ stock slipped after struggling with effectiveness and a lower-body injury late in the season — and it’s at least possible he could have a decision to make come draft time.
The Gamecocks will also lose postseason standouts James Hicks and Will McGillis, who should draw draft interest themselves. Despite having Tommy John surgery, Hicks was selected in the 15th round last year and opted to return to school.
Relievers Chris Veach and Cade Austin could also draw draft interest as late-inning relievers who have closed SEC games.
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 8:16 AM.
