USC baseball: 5 players to watch in 2016
Jonah Bride
Soph., Infielder
The junior college transfer led USC with a .395 average in the fall and has a chance to play a prominent role in the Gamecocks’ lineup. Last season at Neosho Community College Bride hit .471 with 14 home runs and 93 RBIs.
Alex Destino
Soph., 1B/DH/P
As a freshman Destino finished tied for second in home runs with six and third in RBIs with 35. The preseason All-SEC selection will look to improve on those numbers and could also pitch some after making one appearance in 2015.
Clarke Schmidt
Soph., Pitcher
The Georgia native has about locked up the Friday-night starter role for South Carolina after an outstanding fall. As a freshman Schmidt went 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA, but Chad Holbrook said he now looks like a different pitcher.
Dom Thompson-Williams
Junior, OF
The departure of Kyle Martin left USC with a big hole in its lineup. Thompson-Williams appears set to fill it. The junior college transfer hit better than .400 both of his seasons at Iowa Western CC and is expected to bat third for the Gamecocks.
Braden Webb
Freshman, Pitcher
The Oklahoma native is expected to be in the weekend rotation after an outstanding fall. Webb is a hard thrower who was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 38th round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Scrimmage schedule
The South Carolina baseball team begins spring team practice this weekend at Founders Park with three scrimmages open to the public. Friday’s scrimmage is scheduled for 4 p.m. with Saturday’s first pitch at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s tilt set for 1:30 p.m.
This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 12:44 PM with the headline "USC baseball: 5 players to watch in 2016."