A fresh look at South Carolina baseball's new faces

In addition to a new head coach, South Carolina has seen a wealth of new faces roaming around Founders Park. Here’s a look at the new additions to South Carolina’s roster as the days until Opening Day dwindle.

In addition to a brand-new coaching staff, South Carolina has seen a wealth of new faces roaming around Founders Park. Here’s a look at the new additions to the Gamecocks’ 2025 roster as the days until Opening Day dwindle.

Transfers

Dalton Mashore

A senior outfielder from St. Mary’s, Dalton Mashore hit .338 in 2024 with 17 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs with 41 RBI. Mashore brings speed and high-power hitting to the field as well as veteran baseball knowledge.

Standing at 5-foot-10, Mashore fills one of the target positions South Carolina was trying to hit from the transfer portal, centerfield. But he can play all three outfield positions.

Baseball runs in Mashore’s family. His father, Damon, played for the Athletics and Angels and his grandfather, Clyde, played for the Reds and Expos.

Jarvis Evans Jr.

One of three SEC transfers, junior left handed pitcher Jarvis Evans Jr. had 16 appearances last season as a Georgia Bulldog. Evans started eight games and had a 5.49 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 2024.

In 26 combined appearances over two years, Evans pitched to a collective 5.22 ERA in 60.1 innings. Evans held his opponents to a .240 batting average.

In 2023, Evans posted a 3.38 ERA and a 2-0 record in SEC contests. Standing at 6-foot-4, Evans holds promising potential for South Carolina if he can work through his strikeout-to-walk ratio.

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Henry Kaczmar

Hailing from the Big Ten, former Ohio State shortstop Henry Kaczmar led his team as just a sophomore for the Buckeyes. In 2024, Kaczmar batted .320 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBI.

Kaczmar was a powerhouse at the plate in Columbus and a huge pickup for South Carolina offensively. He’s shaping up to be the Gamecocks’ starting shortstop this season. Defensively, Kaczmar recorded 87 putouts and 149 assists at shortstop but also 12 errors.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Kaczmar has potential to be an impactful hitter and big name for the Gamecocks.

Nolan Nawrocki

One of two transfers who traded in their Orange and Purple for Garnet and Black, sophomore infielder Nolan Nawrocki appeared in 36 games with the Clemson Tigers in 2024, batting .264 with four homers and 24 RBI.

In addition, Nawrocki spent his summer in the Cape Cod League, batting .258 with a .321 OBP, three homers and 15 RBI. While with the Tigers, Nawrocki was a key piece to the infield and offense. Before a midseason thumb injury, Nawrocki was one of the strongest hitters for Clemson while also being a talented infielder.

Nawrocki is still working his way back to being at 100 percent health. He had been banged up after banging his knee into a wall back in the fall. He figures to slot in at second base for most of his playing time in 2025.

Max Kaufer

The loss of Cole Messina to the MLB Draft created a major void for the Gamecocks, and both Mainieri and Monte Lee knew the catching position was a priority. After Texas A&M’s run in Omaha and coaching changes, catcher Max Kaufer entered the transfer portal.

Soon after, Kaufer found his new home in Columbia and was a major pickup for the Gamecocks behind the plate. As a true freshman in 2023, Kaufer appeared in 46 games with 321 putouts and 30 assists but only batted .183.

The following year, Kaufer appeared in just 14 games recording 76 putouts and batting .250 in 20 at-bats. He served as the backup to All-American Jackson Appel. With two years of SEC experience under his belt, Kaufer will be one to watch this season if Lee can enhance his production as a hitter.

Caleb Jones

The first to commit out of the transfer portal after Mainieri’s hire was 6-foot-5 senior pitcher Caleb Jones. The former Winthrop Eagle joins the Gamecocks as an experienced reliever.

As a junior, Jones had a 5.82 ERA in 21 appearances with 43 strikeouts. Jones has the potential to be a major righty out of the bullpen for South Carolina.

Nathan Hall

Another Clemson transfer, Nathan Hall is returning to his neck of the woods as a Lexington, SC native. As a freshman, Hall saw some starts in the outfield and batted .243 with one home run and 12 RBI.

However, Hall made less of an impact his sophomore year playing in just 12 games compared to 39 the previous year. Hall comes to Columbia in search of a fresh start with an opportunity to make an impact in the outfield, particularly in centerfield.

Ashton Crowther

Due to an injury his freshman year, Ashton Crowther comes to South Carolina as a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining. While at Miami, the left-handed pitcher earned a 7.36 ERA in 2024 with 29 walks compared to 28 strikeouts.

Crowther has the chance to be a major arm out of the bullpen with some help from South Carolina pitching coach Terry Rooney. In the past, Crowther has struggled with command as the strikeout-to-walkout ratio is concerned.

Over the summer, Crowther was in the Cape Cod League with the Brewster Whitecaps and pitched a 5.73 ERA with four appearances and two starts.

Wyatt Evans

A former Tennessee Volunteer, left-handed pitcher Wyatt Evans is another SEC transfer returning to his home state. However, the Greenville native did not pitch in 2024 due to an injury sustained in 2023.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Evans has major potential to be a top reliever out of the bullpen for the Gamecocks. In 2022, Evans pitched a 2.25 ERA over 19 appearances in 16 innings with 22 strikeouts.

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JUCO

Cayden Gaskin

Coming from Northwest Florida State College, Cayden Gaskin is a junior infielder who made a big impact in his two years with the Raiders. Gaskin helped the Raiders advance to the NJCAA World Series in 2024.

With a powerful swing and great speed, Gaskin batted .403 with seven home runs, 59 RBI and 41 stolen bases in 2024. In addition to a deep postseason run, Gaskin was the Panhandle Player of the Year, First Team All-State and a Third Team All-American in 2024.

Aydin Palmer

After just one season down the road at Florence-Darlington Technical College, sophomore left-handed pitcher Aydin Palmer finds himself in the Garnet and Black.

A dominant young arm for the Stingers, Palmer went 9-3 on the mound with 77 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. During his time at FloDar, Palmer gained confidence and developed his craft on the mound.

Palmer brings yet another commanding arm to the bullpen for the Gamecocks from the JUCO ranks.

Brandon Stone

Standing at 6-foot-6, Brandon Stone joined the Gamecocks after one season at Johnson County Community College. But the right-handed pitcher showed good command and control in just one year.

He looks to be a major pickup for the Gamecocks as Perfect Game ranked Stone No. 17 amongst JUCO transfers. While starting 18 games in 2024, Stone pitched 104.1 innings earning a 3.28 ERA with 113 strikeouts.

Jackson Soucie

Unlike South Carolina’s other players, Jackson Soucie is the Gamecocks’ only international player coming from Ontario, Canada. Another left-handed pitcher added to the bullpen, Soucie has two years of eligibility remaining.

During his sophomore year at Wabash Valley College, Soucie went 8-2 on the mound with a 2.18 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. In addition, Soucie was named Canadian Baseball Network Pitcher of the Year in 2024.

Soucie helped lead the Warriors to a runner-up finish during their NJCAA World Series run.

Jase Woita

A versatile addition to South Carolina’s defense, Jase Woita is an infielder/outfielder who spent two seasons at Kansas City Kansas Community College. As a lefty batter, Woita had little to no trouble getting the ball in play during his time in JUCO.

Despite missing some of the 2024 season with a hamate injury, Woita batted .427 with 13 doubles, 11 homers and 65 RBI. During the fall, Woita took reps at both corner infield positions as well as the outfield.

Brendan Sweeney

2024 NJCAA national champion Brendan Sweeney joined the Gamecocks after one year at Blinn Community College. Sweeney is a 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher who made 17 starts in 2024.

Also in 2024, Sweeney pitched three complete games and struck out 67 batters while going 8-2. Before Blinn, Sweeney spent one year at Eastern Oklahoma State College where he went 4-3 with 40 strikeouts in 16 appearances.

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Freshmen

Beau Hollins

Since his commitment, there has been a lot of talk surrounding freshman Beau Hollins and for good reason. Coming out of Lexington, South Carolina, Hollins was the No. 5 player and No. 1 first baseman in South Carolina and the class of 2024 by Perfect Game.

As a senior at River Bluff High School, Hollins hit .442 with four homers, 26 RBI, 11 doubles and 22 runs scored. The previous year, he hit .445 with 18 home runs, 47 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Hollins also had the opportunity to enter the 2024 MLB Draft but passed it up for the chance to play in Garnet and Black just as his father, Dave, did in the 1980s.

KJ Scobey

Just 41 miles west of Ethan Petry’s hometown in Florida, South Carolina picked up freshman infielder KJ Scobey. In high school, Scobey was a member of Perfect Game Preseason All-Florida Region first team (2024) and Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-Florida Region first team (2023).

Scobey was another huge addition for the future of the Gamecocks. As a senior, Scobey hit .395 with 34 RBI and a .519 on-base percentage. He shapes up to be one of the few freshmen playing regularly in 2025.

Zach Russell

A wildly versatile addition for the Gamecocks, Zach Russell joins the team from Charleston, SC. Russell, a right-handed pitcher, pitched to a combined 124 strikeouts and 1.90 ERA in his junior and senior years.

However, Russell also batted a combined .338 with 34 RBI in 2023 and 2024. Diamond Prospects ranked Russell the No. 1 shortstop in South Carolina for the class of 2024. South Carolina plans to use him just as a pitcher moving forward.

Tyler June

The shortstop position is loaded with talent and competition for South Carolina this season. Freshman Tyler June was named the No. 31 overall player and No. 6 shortstop in South Carolina in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game.

June committed to the Gamecocks over in-state rival Clemson. In high school, June was SCISA All-State for baseball in 2022 and 2024 as well as SCISA Football Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Ryder Garino

A powerful arm from New Jersey, right-handed pitcher Ryder Garino was named the New Jersey Pitcher of the Year in 2024. As a senior, Garino finished with a 0.39 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 53 innings allowing just three earned runs.

Garino also threw nine complete games in 2024 landing him a spot on the Perfect Game Preseason All-Northeast Region first team. Throughout high school, he had a combined record of 20-2.

Riley Goodman

Riley Goodman was the No. 15 overall player and No. 5 right-handed pitcher in Tennessee in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game. Goodman is a solid arm with room to develop on the mound.

Goodman sits in the low 90 MPH range and adds depth that the Gamecocks will need. However, he won’t pitch at all this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. So he should be back for the 2026 season.

Gavin Braland

Out of Georgia Premier Academy, Gavin Braland provides competition in the battle at catcher. Braland was the No. 6 ranked catcher and No. 41 overall prospect in Georgia in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game.

In 2022, Braland recorded a 1.87 pop up time behind the plate. Over his four years of high school, he batted .302. Also named to Perfect Game Preseason All-Southeast Region second team (2024). Mainieri said Braland put on about 20 pounds. He’s now listed at 185 pounds.

Cooper Parks

Another South Carolina native, Cooper Parks is a right-handed pitcher from York. Parks committed to South Carolina after playing at Founder Park in the 2023 Palmetto Games.

At the event, he was awarded the Golden Arm Award for the Mideast Team and hit 92 MPH. Parks was also a two-way player in high school playing shortstop.

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