Garrett Gainey hears name called in 2024 MLB Draft
For much of the 2024 season, Garrett Gainey was one of South Carolina’s most reliable pitchers. You could argue as the season wore on, he became the most valuable pitcher on the staff.
Whether it was closing games, long reliving or even making some big starts, Gainey did it all. And now he’ll get his chance to continue to show what he can do at the next level.
The Tampa Bay Rays have selected Gainey with the 276th overall pick in the ninth round of the MLB Draft on Monday.
In his lone season as a Gamecock, the fifth-year left-hander pitched to a 4.00 ERA in 24 appearances (three starts). In 54 innings pitched, he struck out 68 and walked 11.
Gainey, who followed his pitching coach Matt Williams from Liberty, started the year out in the bullpen and became the team’s go-to closer. He finished tied for fifth in the SEC with six saves. Later in the season, he jumped into the starting rotation when injuries began to flare up. In his three starts on the mound, he managed to pitch into the sixth inning each time out.
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Before coming to South Carolina, Gainey previously pitched at both Winthrop and Liberty. Though, he didn’t see the same type of results that he did during this past season. For his career, he finished with a 6.50 ERA in 195.1 total innings. He struck out 184 and walked 56.
South Carolina is coming off a season in which it finished 37-25 (13-17 SEC). The Gamecocks made the NCAA Tournament but did not manage to make it out of regional play. This resulted in the firing of former head coach Mark Kingston shortly after the season ended.
The program has gone in a new direction with veteran head coach Paul Mainieri being brought aboard to take the reins. Monte Lee is the only coach from the previous staff to stay on, joining pitching coach/recruiting coordinator Terry Rooney and assistant coach John Hendry.
