Looking to add some baseball excitement to your academic calendar this year? The University of South Carolina Baseball roster has you covered! Featuring current and former players from the college’s varsity and intramural teams, you’ll be able to follow along as they try to make a name for themselves on the diamond.
South Carolina Baseball Roster
The University of South Carolina baseball team is back in action this season and they are looking to make some noise in the SEC. This year’s team features a lot of talent, including several players who were drafted in the recent MLB draft. Here is a look at the roster for the Gamecocks.
Joe McCarthy
Pitcher
6’4″ 220lbs
Senior
McCarthy was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2018 MLB draft. McCarthy is a senior from Lexington, Kentucky and he started 48 games for USC last season. He has a 3.97 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched. McCarthy is expected to join the Athletics bullpen this season.
Jared Janczak
Pitcher
5’11” 165lbs
Senior
Janczak was drafted by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2018 MLB draft. Janczak was a two-time All-American at USC and he finished his career with a 3.65 ERA and 324 strikeouts in 367 innings pitched. Janczak will likely start for the Mets this season.
Position Overview
The University of South Carolina baseball team features a lineup full of upperclassmen and talented newcomers. Here is a look at the team’s five positions:
Pitcher: Sophomore RHP Tucker Byrne (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) is the starting pitcher. Byrne has a 3.86 ERA in 39 innings this season. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team last year and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 32nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Catcher: Senior C Christopher Diaz (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) has been catching for the Gamecocks this season. Diaz has a .939 fielding percentage and 22 doubles on the season.
First Base: Freshman OF Zack Collins (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) is batting .429 with six home runs and 24 RBIs this season. Collins was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of this year’s MLB Draft.
Second Base: Junior 2B Brandon Wimbush (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) is hitting .379 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs this season. Wimbush was named second team all-SEC by coaches earlier
Statistics
University of South Carolina Baseball Roster
South Carolina baseball returned to the field this season with a roster that is headlined by several key players who practiced with the Tar Heels last season. The Gamecocks are led offensively by junior first baseman Cody Martin, who posted a team-high batting average of .353 and 16 home runs last season. Junior right fielder Jake McGee was also a major contributor, batting .337 with six home runs and 44 RBIs. Overall, South Carolina features nine players who averaged at least one hit per game last season.
In the pitching staff, junior left-hander Riley Ford leads the way with 12 victories in 20 starts. Junior right-hander Drew Pomeranz has also been impressive in his first year as a starter, recording a 3.09 ERA in 26 appearances. Senior left-hander Branden Kline rounds out the staff with 11 wins in 21 starts.
Overall, South Carolina is looking to improve on their 7-25 record from last season. In order to do so, they will need production from their offense and pitching staff both this season and into next year when they return to the SEC tournament for the third time in six years
Players to Watch
With the baseball season kicking off in just a few short weeks, there are plenty of players to watch on the University of South Carolina roster.
Freshman Kade McClure leads the team in hitting with a .361 average, while also boasting impressive power numbers with 10 home runs and 62 RBI. Redshirt sophomore Chandler Taylor has been steady at the plate throughout his career, accumulating an average of .313 over his four-year career.
One player who is quickly rising to fame on the Palmetto State soil is junior left-handed pitcher Seth Shapiro. The Staten Island, New York native has amassed an impressive 2.40 ERA so far this season, earning him first-place votes in both the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week and Cy Young polls.
So if you’re looking for some baseball excitement this season, be sure to keep an eye on the players from University of South Carolina!
The University of South Carolina baseball roster for the 2019 season is now available. This roster includes all of the players who will be participating in games this season, as well as any walk-ons who have signed up to participate. If you are a fan of the Gamecocks and are looking for information on who to watch, or even just want to see which players will likely start in certain positions this year, then this roster is for you.