South Carolina baseball: former Gamecocks making noise in the MLB

Updating where former South Carolina baseball players stand after the MLB’s opening week.

The Major League Baseball season is off and running with opening week now in the books. Over these first handful of games, there have been a few standouts that previously donned the pinstripes for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Let’s take a look at the seven former players currently on MLB rosters, and see where they stand after week one.

Whit Merrifield – KC

Merrifield has been a star thus far, getting off to a very quick start for the Kansas City Royals. The leadoff man is hitting .375 through his first six games, whacking three home runs and knocking in nine RBIs. Merrifield led the majors in hits in both 2018 and 2019, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Jackie Bradley, Jr – MIL

Bradley has gotten off to a slow start for his new squad, having just a single hit over his first 19 at-bats in Milwaukee. That one hit did go for a solo homer, but it’s safe to say it’s not the week that the former ALCS MVP was hoping for. To this point, Bradley is hitting .053 with nine strikeouts and a walk.

Christian Walker – ARI

Walker is in his second full season as the Diamondbacks’ everyday first baseman, after backing up Paul Goldschmidt for a few years. Always a threat to leave the ballpark, Walker has one long ball to his name so far, a two-run shot at Coors Field earlier this week. He’s been a little streaky at the plate to this point in his career, and is in a bit of a slump to start the 2021 season. The seventh-year vet is hitting just .138 with five strikeouts, though two of his four hits on the year have gone for extra bases.

Grayson Greiner – DET

Greiner is the backup backstop in Detroit, and has been used late in games due to his defensive prowess. He’s still a little behind at the plate, getting off to a 1-for-6 start, but he’ll continue to see action as the Tigers’ season trucks on.

Jordan Montgomery – NYY

Montgomery picked up a win in his first start of the year for the Yankees, throwing six scoreless innings in his debut. The lefty struck out nine batters, allowed just four baserunners, and is looking to get back to his 2017 form, when he finished sixth in the rookie of the year voting.

Taylor Widener – ARI

In his second professional season, Widener earned his first career start last week, and didn’t disappoint. He picked up a win over the Padres after tossing six innings of shutout baseball, striking out five and surrendering just three hits.

Tyler Webb – STL

Webb has already seen action in four games, being used as a left-handed specialist in the Cardinals’ bullpen. Over those four appearances, Webb has struck out two batters and allowed two runs on two hits in three innings of work. He should continue to see a ton of work in relief as St. Louis navigates through its 2021 season.