Mark Kingston talks injuries, South Carolina roster ahead of fall scrimmages
South Carolina begins baseball scrimmages this week, a pivotal stretch for a Gamecocks program trying to get back on track.
Before Friday’s scrimmage, Mark Kingston met with the media to address a few things as South Carolina starts up.
Injuries
South Carolina certainly has its fair share of guys who will either miss the fall or being banged up during the fall.
The biggest injury is to Caleb Denny, an Oral Roberts transfer, who will miss the fall after an elbow procedure. Denny slashed .331/.389/.565 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI last season. When healthy, will be a big factor in the Gamecocks’ lineup.
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“He’s a new outfielder from Oral Roberts who’s going to be a really good player for us,” Kingston said. “He had an elbow procedure not too long ago so he will not play this fall but will be good to go by the season comes around.”
South Carolina has a few pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery who the Gamecocks will bring back slowly. Jackson Phipps, Sam Simpson, James Hicks and Jack Mahoney missed most, if not all, of last season recovering from Tommy John.
“You won’t seem much of them pitching this fall,” Kingston said. “But we anticipate come season time—which is much more important—those guys will be able to contribute.”
Kingston also said they’ll be “conservative” with a few guys like projected weekend starters Will Sanders and Noah Hall.
New faces, new opportunities
South Carolina overhauled its 2023 roster, bringing in 20 new faces with 10 out of the transfer portal. Most of the portal additions center at the plate.
The seven portal additions combined to slash .275/.366/.496 with a 2.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 1,084 plate appearances.
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It’s guys with a lot of at-bats under their belts, guys who are mature. It’s a good left-right balance and we’ve seen a lot of power. It’s been an encouraging group so far. Each of the guys has been what we expected them to be,” Kingston said. “So far they’ve been really good and anxious to see how they look against pitchers now.”
South Carolina also enrolled its two highest members of the 2022 recruiting class in right-hander Eli Jerzembeck and infielder Ethan Petry.
Friday’s scrimmage will be their first tastes of collegiate baseball.
“The freshmen have come in and done a nice job so far but we haven’t played any games or done any scrimmages,” Kingston said. “They’ve looked good in the bullpens and looked good in our offensive and defensive workouts. I’m anxious to see them playing against Division I competition.”
Position flexibility
South Carolina has a lot of questions to answer on the infield, largely about where guys will play. Braylen Wimmer, who turned down good money to come back to school, will get “a full look” at shortstop, Kingston said.
Michael Braswell also has played a ton of short last season and Kevin Madden is coming off elbow surgery. The Gamecocks have a few newcomers like Will Tippett, Petry, transfer Will McGillis and others who will factor in as well.
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Tippett is a guy who can move all over the field. Petry is a guy who is getting most of his work at third base right now but also can play in the outfield or play first base. Obviously, Kevin madden is a returning third baseman,” Kingston said.
“McGillis is a guy who could play third, second, first. He’s played a little shortstop in the past but on this team those positions are probably more what you’re looking at. He can go to the outfield too. There are other guys who will be in the running.”
Jack Mahoney
Mahoney might not see a lot of mound time this fall, but he’s going to be exclusively a pitcher moving forward.
The right-hander has toyed with being a two-way player the last couple of seasons. Kingston likes his incredibly high ceiling on the mound.
“It’s his draft year and I think he decided what’s best for him and the team at this point is just to master that craft. He’s been really good. Coach (Justin) Parker has done a nice job with his development. His velocity has been through the room and he looks polished. He has a chance to be a really, really big-time guy.”
In his freshman year, Mahoney had a 1.62 ERA in 33.1 innings before tearing his UCL. He had a 1.05 WHIP with 39 strikeouts to eight walks.
If fully healthy, he could very much compete for a weekend rotation role.
“This is a guy who had an under-two ERA as a freshman where he’s just learning his craft as a two-way guy. Now that he’s just focused on pitching and had a year off from the surgery to develop every part of his game,” Kingston said. “I think you’re looking at a potential superstar.”
