South Carolina baseball earns commitment from Tennessee pitcher
One priority for South Carolina this offseason will be to add more pitching through the transfer portal. It’s a certain necessity after this past season.
The Gamecocks landed a commitment from Tennessee left-handed pitcher Wyatt Evans on Friday. Evans made it official in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Excited for my next chapter! All glory to God! #gococks,” the post reads.
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The decision comes after Evans spent the last few years in Knoxville with the Vols. But he hasn’t pitched in each of the last two seasons. He last threw during the 2022 season, where he pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 19 appearances out of the bullpen. He struck out 22 and walked three, while opponents hit just .211.
But he has pitched in the MLB Draft League this year for the Frederick Keys. In six innings pitched, Evans has a 1.50 ERA with seven strikeouts to two walks.
Evans clocks in at a staggering 6-foot-6, 245 pounds. He’s a local product from Greenville, playing his high school baseball at J.L. Mann.
Cole Messina speaks to what makes his younger brother Carson special and the big decision ahead for him
By: Peyton Butt
Star South Carolina catcher Cole Messina recently shared what makes his brother, Carson, special. The 6-foot-3 South Carolina commit pitches in the 91-94 mile per hour range and has been a top prospect throughout his high school career.
As a senior at Summerville High School, Carson pitched to a 2.62 ERA with a dynamic fastball. Despite being brothers, Cole believes there are differences between the two on and off the field.
“Carson is probably a little bit different than me, and Ethan (Petry) can attest for that,” Cole said on the Garnet Trust Hour on 107.5 The Game. “Carson’s more outgoing, very like very high energy all the time. Obviously just a good kid, just very, very high strung you could say.”
Differences aside, both Messina brothers are naturally talented on the field. With 33 strikeouts in 75 batters faced his senior year, there is no denying the potential and athleticism Carson has.
“On the field he’s a little bit different than me,” Cole said. “He’s a lot more quieter, he goes about his difference a little different than I do. He’s, I think, he’s a really really good arm for his age. He’s very talented, very athletic.”
The connection between a pitcher and a catcher is special and the Messina’s share that on another level. With both Messina’s attending the 2024 MLB Draft Combine, there is a chance the two won’t play in garnet and black together.
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“Whatever happens in like the draft, like you said, happens,” Cole said. “I think as a selfish brother that’ll have a decision to make, we’ll see.”
The future for Cole as a Gamecock remains uncertain. With 21 homers and 71 RBI this season, Cole has a real chance to potentially head down the MLB draft route in hopes of reaching the big leagues within a few years. But if he were to do that, it would mean he’d forgo his senior year at South Carolina and a chance to try and help the team get back to Omaha. Either way, it’s a decision that requires a lot of thinking.
“I guess the next month and a half will be just a bunch of phone calls, a bunch of meetings, a bunch of Facetimes, you could say. I go to the combine (now this week), talk to teams in person, but I mean there’s a lot of factors. I know one factor was Monte Lee going to be around? Another factor is my brother,” Cole said.
