Ethan Petry's pursuit of SEC and South Carolina baseball history
South Carolina baseball star Ethan Petry is one of the top power hitters in the history of the SEC. While that might sound hyperbolic at first, a look at the numbers tells the story.
Through about two full seasons and another quarter of a season, Petry has logged 48 total home runs. If he never hit another ball over the fence, he would rank 35th in SEC history in long balls. Among players who played fewer than four years, that number would jump to 20th-best.
The good news for Petry and his assault on the record books? He will have plenty more opportunities to hit additional home runs.
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If in 2025, he manages to match his pace from the 2023 and 2024 campaigns (an average of 22 homers), Petry would have 66 total dingers, and all-time lists would look vastly different.
First, South Carolina baseball would have a new career home run leader. Justin Smoak hit 62 in his three years in garnet and black and is the only Gamecock currently above Petry.
Compared to SEC hitters, 66 bombs for Petry would move him up to sixth in conference history–behind only Eddie Furniss (80), Brad Cresse (78), Jac Caglianone (75), Matt LaPorta (74), and Raphael Palmeiro (67)–or seventh, pending how many Texas A&M Jace LaViolette hits this season (he currently has 53 in his career).
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If Petry, indeed, matches his career averages, he will become the first SEC batter to hit at least 20 home runs in every year of his career (with at least three seasons played). LaViolette has a chance to make this same bit of history during the 2025 season, as well.
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As things stand, Petry is the Gamecocks’ career record-holder for slugging percentage (.700) and OPS (1.177). While still early in the season, his 2025 campaign is on pace for the single-season program record in batting average (.420), on-base percentage (.532), slugging percentage (.820), and OPS (1.352).
With 143 on his ledger, Petry has a chance to challenge Smoak’s career RBI record (207), but it likely would require a long postseason run for South Carolina. With a strong finish, Smoak’s career total bases mark (485) could be in danger, as well, as Petry sits at 343. He’s also on pace for a career-high total bases number and could make things interesting for Yaron Peter’s single-season record of 215.
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Petry will have his next opportunity to climb the record book mountains this weekend at home at Founders Park. The Gamecocks play a three-game series against the Morehead State Eagles as the final series tune-up before SEC play begins. The Friday-Saturday-Sunday affair will be available via streaming on SEC Network+. Friday’s opener will begin at 7:00 p.m. First pitch for Saturday’s game two will be at 4:00 p.m. The Sunday finale will begin at 1:30 p.m.
