Jordan Carrion fought to make the South Carolina roster, now he fights for wins

Jordan Carrion battled his way onto South Carolina’s roster in 2025 from summer offseason cuts to Opening Day.

Fighting for himself is something that can encompass Carrion’s entire career to this point. The 23-year-old had already transferred once before heading to South Carolina in 2023. He also entered his fifth season of college baseball with his fifth head coach in 2024.

Carrion transferred to Florida State in 2022 after spending his freshman season with the Florida Gators. The veteran infielder then decided to transfer again to the Gamecocks.

He didn’t see the diamond at any point in the 2024 season at South Carolina. Under NCAA rules, since it was his second transfer, he became ineligible and had to sit out the season.

If he hadn’t pleaded his case in the offseason, he likely would’ve had to do the whole process again.

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“… Last summer, I tried to convince him not to come back to South Carolina. I really did,” Mainieri said. “We had too many guys on the roster. I didn’t think I’d have room for him, and he virtually begged me to come back and get an opportunity. And the kid was so passionate about it, I just couldn’t say no to him. And boy, am I glad I didn’t.”

Mainieri said he talked with Carrion before the season, where he told him he would enter the season as a utility infielder, rotating between second, shortstop, and third base for the Gamecocks. It was a role that he was just going to have to embrace and have a positive attitude about.

“And he assured me, ‘Coach, I’m happy to be here. I’m going to embrace whatever role you give me,'” Mainieri said.

Carrion got action in relief of KJ Scobey and Nolan Nawrocki early in the season. However, the infielder wasn’t able to record a single hit in those appearances, walking in most of his at-bats. Despite that, Mainieri trusted him enough to pencil him in at second base in game two vs. Milwaukee on Feb. 22.

Carrion said seeing his name on the lineup card for the first time in 644 days was a “blessing” and was something that was a long time coming.

In his first start of the season on Feb. 22, Carrion recorded two hits in his three plate appearances.

“He’s like the consummate team player … decided to give him a chance to play today, and he sparked us,” Mainieri said after the performance. “His two-strike, two-run single to right field today was an awesome at-bat. I was just hoping he’d hit a ground ball to the second baseman and get us a run, and he smoked it in the hole there for two runs. … What can you say about him? You think it’s easy to not start a game and then (to) all of a sudden get thrown in there and play like that, it’s really nuts.”

After a few more scattered appearances, Carrion got his first full weekend start against Morehead State. Carrion recorded a hit in all three of his starts on the weekend against the Eagles, including a single that tied the game in that weekend’s series opener.

“I decided to give him a chance to play a game, and he played so outstanding I had to play him again. And he just kept playing well,” Mainieri said.

Carrion’s “outstanding” play extended into Wednesday’s midweek win over Georgia State. His three-run double shifted the momentum, extending South Carolina’s one-run lead to four.

“Just, my number gets called, you know, doing everything I can to help the team win,” Carrion said. “… Hitting with people on base, that’s big, especially with two outs. So, being able to do that to help the team win is good.”

Mainieri said he’s happy that Carrion is playing so well and that his story is one of how far your attitude can take you by being a good teammate and being patient.

“It was a big hit he got tonight for us,” Mainieri said. “And he turned double plays and, you know, guy’s spectacular defensively, and he’s a great kid. I just love him to death. I’m just so, so honored to coach him for a year.”

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