South Carolina baseball: evaluating the future of the program
By Jacob Elsey
What lies ahead for South Carolina baseball?
The South Carolina baseball team’s season came to end over the weekend following back-to-back one-run losses to Old Dominion and Virginia. Offensive issues plagued the Gamecocks, as they have all year long, and the lineup just couldn’t scratch out enough runs to advance to the championship round.
On Saturday night, the Gamecocks fell 2-1 to the top-seeded Monarchs. The offense managed just three hits, once again letting starting pitcher Thomas Farr down. Farr, who pitched deep into the eighth inning, allowed just two runs. With two outs in the frame and bases loaded, the righty walked in what would become the winning run on a 3-2 pitch, but his performance should’ve been more than enough to pick up the win. The loss marked the ninth game of the season in which the South Carolina lineup produced three runs or less in a game started by Farr. Those results saw the junior lose seven of his final eight decisions despite posting an ERA of just 3.87 on the season.
Against Old Dominion pitching, Gamecock batters struck out 12 times, failing to string together hits and leaving a total of 10 runners on base. The performance, unfortunately, was nothing new to an offense that led the SEC in strikeouts while finishing 13th in team batting average (.246).
Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Virginia was more of the same. The Cavaliers pushed across a run in each of the first three frames, but the Gamecock bullpen would come in to stop the bleeding and keep their team in the contest. Julian Bosnic and Daniel Lloyd kept the Cavs off the scoreboard over the final five at bats, but South Carolina’s offense couldn’t pull out the win. While the lineup did scratch out seven hits, they also struck out 14 times, which kept those base runners from advancing and kept the pressure off of the Virginia pitching staff. The loss officially ended the 2021 season.
It was a fitting close to the year, and a narrative that the program had seen play out too many times this season. The Gamecocks finish with a 34-23 overall record and an early exit in Columbia.
What’s moving on from last year’s team?
With the MLB Draft coming up in a little over a month, South Carolina could wind up losing a ton of production, particularly from the pitching staff. Both Thomas Farr and Julian Bosnic landed in the most recent Top 200 prospect ranking according to MLB.com. Centerfielder Brady Allen also found a spot at No. 187.
The roster also lists seven seniors, including everday shortstop George Callil, outfielder Andrew Eyster and starting pitcher Brannon Jordan. That’s a total of 10 losses, minimum, with a few upperclassmen having to make a decision on their collegiate futures soon. Most notable of the juniors on the roster with MLB aspirations are NCAA home run leader Wes Clarke and South Carolina’s best overall pitcher in Brett Kerry.
The Gamecocks could ultimately lose its entire season-ending starting rotation in Farr, Kerry, and Jordan, meaning a pitching staff that finished the year third in the conference in team ERA will take a major step back.
Kingston’s future in Columbia
Kingston has seen mixed results in his four years at the helm. In 2018, the Gamecocks reached the Super Regionals, but the program fell to .500 in year two, missing the postseason altogether. South Carolina was off to a good start in 2020, but the season was shut down by COVID, and the program seemingly bounced back to reach the regionals in this past campaign.
While the recruiting and pitching have improved from year to year, Gamecock fans are becoming frustrated with the hitting approach. The all-or-nothing mindset is tough to watch, and it’s hard to create scoring opportunities when your lineup strikes out nearly 10 times a game. The Gamecocks lived and died by the long ball, but solo homers only do so much. It was evident that the offense had its issues making consistent contact, executing sacrifices, and knocking runners in when they get into scoring position.
Kingston’s leash shouldn’t be too short with the program getting back to the postseason, but a season or two more of sub-.250 hitting and 540+ K’s will crank up the heat on the head coach’s seat in a hurry.