Breaking down Gamecock Baseball newcomers

24 new faces have joined the Gamecocks and are ready to compete as spring scrimmages start back up. Here’s a look at all the newcomers.

Transfers

Blake Jackson—Jackson played two seasons at the University of North Carolina Charlotte hitting five home runs and 13 doubles in 2023. Batting .277 in 2023, Jackson joins the Gamecocks as a junior outfielder. 

Kennedy Jones—Transferring from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Jones is another junior outfielder for the Gamecocks. Jones was named First Team All-SoCon in 2023 batting .357 with 14 doubles, 14 home runs and 43 RBI.

Austin Brinling—Before South Carolina, Brinling was an outfielder at University of North Florida. With the Ospreys, Brinling batted .386 with 18 doubles, 31 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

Parker Noland—At Vanderbilt, Noland batted .277 in 2023 12 doubles, 9 home runs and 39 RBI. Noland joins the Gamecocks as a fifth year infielder. 

Tyler Causey—Senior infielder Causey transferred from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to South Carolina. Standing at 6-foot-6, Causey missed most of the 2023 season with an injury.

Ty Good—While at the College of Charleston, Good was named 2023 CAA Pitcher of the Year pitching 4.26 ERA in 82.1 innings in 2023.

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Jordan Carrion—Carrion played his freshman year in the SEC at Florida before transferring to Florida State for two seasons. Returning to the SEC, Carrion joins the Gamecocks as a senior infielder who last season batted Hit .265 with 48 hits, 10 doubles, and 26 RBIs.

Michael Polk—Georgia transfer Polk missed out on the 2023 season for the Bulldogs due to injury. In 2022, Polk pitched 9.62 ERA in 17 relief appearances.

Drake Quinn—During his four years at Marist University, he had 73 strikeouts in 50.2 in his senior season. 

Garrett Gainey—Before transferring, Gainey pitched 47 innings throwing 44 strikeouts for a 7.28 ERA at Liberty University. 

Tyler Dean—During his 2023 season at Virginia Tech, Dean pitched 12 innings with 15 strikeouts for a 6.75 ERA. 

Dalton Reeves—A Presbyterian College transfer, Reeves had a team-high .529 batting average in 2023. Reeves joins the Gamecocks as a catcher with experience as a first baseman. 

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Freshmen

Lee Ellis— A Maryland native, Ellis stands at 5’11 and will be joining the Gamecocks as a shortstop. 

Ryan Bakes—Bakes comes to South Carolina ranked No. 15 nationally in the catcher position and No. 2 in his home state of Illinois in the class of 2023. 

Jake McCoy- During his time at Catawba Ridge High School, McCoy pitched a 1.64 ERA and was ranked as the No. 2 ranked left-handed pitcher in South Carolina in the class of 2023. In 2023, McCoy helped his team win a state championship.

Tyler Zedalis—Zedalis joined South Carolina as the No. 4 shortstop in North Carolina in 2023. Previously, he was named All-Greater Metro 4A Conference in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

Eddie Copper—Playing for P27 Academy in high school, Copper is ranked No. 3 right-handed pitcher in Pennsylvania in the class of 2023. 

Tyler Pitzer—Ranked right behind his teammate Copper, Pitzer is ranked No. 4 right-handed pitcher in Pennsylvania in the class of 2023. 

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Xavier Pelzer—While in high school, Pelzer was ranked No. 4 for left-handed pitchers in South Carolina. 

Tristan Salinas—Salinas is listed as an infielder and outfielder for the Gamecocks. In the class of 2023, Salinas ranked No. 6 as a North Carolina middle infielder. 

Joey Wittig—After de-committing from the Air Force Academy, Wittig joins the Gamecocks as the No. 46-ranked right-handed pitcher from the state of California in the class of 2023. 

Jevarra Martin—Martin was ranked as the No. 4 left-handed pitcher in Georgia amongst the class of 2023.

Parker Marlatt—Marlatt joins USC as the No. 22 right-handed pitcher in Georgia in the class of 2023. 

Reese Marcum— A Lexington, South Carolina native, Marcum is ranked as the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in South Carolina in the class of 2023.

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