South Carolina baseball: How did former Gamecocks fare in their MLB debuts?
By Jacob Elsey
Eight former South Carolina baseball players opened up their 2020 MLB schedule this past weekend. How’d they fare?
Major League Baseball’s 60-game season kicked off this past weekend, and a number of former Gamecock baseball players made their 2020 debuts. With the first three games complete, let’s see who got off to a fast start.
JACKIE BRADLEY, JR.
Bradley got off to a wicked hot start in Boston, going 7-for-11 over the Red Sox’ three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. The outfielder’s .636 batting average currently ranks second in the MLB, and his seven hits are tied for most in the majors. He recorded 2 or more hits in each contest, with his best performance coming on Opening Day where he launched two doubles in a 3-for-4, two-RBI night. To top off a great weekend, he also flashed the glove with a couple of highlight reel catches.
GRAYSON GREINER
Greiner made an appearance in all three of the Tigers’ opening weekend games, earning the start in the series finale. The catcher went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in that start. He also appeared in the first two contests as a defensive replacement, but did not record an at-bat.
WHIT MERRIFIELD
Merrifield went 3-for-10 with an RBI and a stolen base over the weekend, as the Royals took on the Cleveland Indians. His .300 average ranks first on the Kansas City team, as he recorded one hit in each of the first three games.
JORDAN MONTGOMERY
Montgomery was demoted prior to the season’s start, but is expected to join the Yankees’ roster this coming week. He will battle for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
JUSTIN SMOAK
Smoak went 3-for-11 over opening weekend, with two of those hits going for extra bases. The veteran first baseman launched his first homer of the season in the Brewers’ 8-3 win over the Cubs on Saturday. Smoak currently boasts a .273 batting average, but will need to cut down on his team-leading six strikeouts.
CHRISTIAN WALKER
Walker made two starts over opening weekend, and currently owns a .375 batting average. He went 3-for-8 with a double over Friday and Saturday’s matchups, batting in a run in each contest, making him the team leader in RBIs at weekend’s end.
TYLER WEBB
Webb made his first appearance in the Cardinals’ 9-1 win over the Pirates on Saturday. The lefty pitched one inning, allowing no runs and striking out one. He was part of a St. Louis bullpen that held Pittsburgh hitless over the final three innings of the game.
TAYLOR WIDENER
Widener made his MLB debut on Saturday in the Diamondbacks’ 5-1 loss to the Padres. Though the outcome wasn’t what Arizona wanted, Widener’s performance couldn’t have gone much better. The rookie recorded his team’s final five outs of the game, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out a batter. He allowed no hits, a walk, and no runs.