South Carolina pitcher Tyler Dean enters transfer portal

South Carolina pitcher Tyler Dean has entered the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos learned Sunday. Dean spent just one season with the Gamecocks last year after he previously transferred from Virginia Tech.

He appeared in 13 games to strike out 10 batters and post an ERA of 4.72. The loss now leaves South Carolina with a slightly less crowded bullpen with the season set to begin in about three months.

Dean also played in 19 games for the Hokies during his two seasons in Blacksburg. He totaled 22 strikeouts in that span with 21 hits allowed.

Dean played his high school baseball at William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia. He was a four-year varsity pitcher and earned first team all-state honors as a senior in 2021.

South Carolina is coming off of a 37-25 record this past season and advance to the regional round of the NCAA Tournament. It will look to again make the tournament this year as it figures out what its pitching rotation will be.

South Carolina baseball alum wins prestigious award again

For the third year in a row, South Carolina baseball alum Christian Walker has won the Rawlings Gold Glove. As the National League’s winner at first base, Walker beat out the Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. In a bit of irony, Harper was rumored to be a South Carolina commitment before electing to head to junior college for a faster route to pro ball; had he become a Gamecock, he would have been in Columbia at the same time as Walker.

Walker was deserving of the prestigious honor. The Arizona Diamondbacks star is a defensive wizard at first base. According to the advanced statistics on Baseball Savant, Walker logged very similar production on defense as in his previous two Gold Glove Award wins, despite playing in fewer games thanks to a trip to the IL. He led the league in Defensive Outs Above Average this year with +13.

Walker’s three Gold Gloves are the most by any former Gamecock.