South Carolina adds left-handed pitcher Matt Duffy from transfer portal

South Carolina has a fresh face in town. On Friday, Canisius College pitcher Matt Duffy announced he will join the Gamecocks next season.

Duffy was “the 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Duffy also earned All-MAAC First Team honors after leading the league in total strikeouts (119), strikeouts per nine innings (13.28), WHIP (1.14) and hits allowed per nine innings (7.14),” per the school’s website.

Duffy will be entering his senior season next year. The star pitcher seemingly needs a new challenge. Duffy became the first pitcher in MAAC history to post multiple 100-strikeout campaigns. The Ontario native is excited to begin his new journey.

“Thank you to Canisius College, Coach Mazurek and all the teammates that have pushed me along the way. With that being said, I’d like to announce that I will be continuing a new chapter of my college baseball career at the University of South Carolina,” Duffy wrote on Twitter.

Thank you to Canisius College, Coach Mazurek and all the teammates that have pushed me along the way. With that being said, I’d like to announce that I will be continuing a new chapter of my college baseball career at the University of South Carolina pic.twitter.com/K7Feq93iAf

— Matt Duffy (@mattduffyy) July 8, 2023

Duffy’s junior season wasn’t his only successful campaign. The 6-foot-2 pitcher was named to the 2022 All-MAAC Team, as well. Duffy’s best moment of the season came at the biggest moment when he allowed just one run on six hits over 10.1 innings of work.

Duffy was selected as the MAAC Championship Most Valuable Player for his efforts. While the South Carolina transfer has no experience against SEC opponents, he’s not a complete stranger to Power Five opponents. Duffy has posted a 3.0 ERA against Power Five teams in his career.

Duffy is one of 10 transfers to join the Gamecocks already this off-season. Yet, he is much needed. South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston and Co. missed out on Central Connecticut State ace Dominic Niman when he committed to SEC East foe Kentucky on Friday.

South Carolina went 42-21 this season before ultimately falling to the Florida Gators in two-straight games in the Gainesville Super Regionals. After the loss, Kingston discussed how the shortcoming will impact the program’s future.

“There’s a lot of guys that now have gotten a taste of how close and the pain of getting this close to Omaha, and not getting there. So, we’ll have a lot of guys who will really be driven and have a chip on their shoulder moving forward, and that can be a good thing,” Kingston said.

Coming from a small college, Duffy will likely have a chip of his own. The Gamecocks will welcome their new pitcher with open arms.