South Carolina Baseball: Gamecocks add transfer portal player who could fill lineup’s biggest hole

The South Carolina baseball team had a black hole at the top of the lineup for most of the 2023 season. It didn’t matter who was thrown in the leadoff spot for Mark Kingston’s club, no one consistently performed well as the table setter for the Gamecocks this spring.

Braylen Wimmer has had a very good 2023 season, but he struggled when moved into the leadoff spot. Dylan Brewer had good moments but was awful at the top of the order. The first position in the order might have broken Caleb Denny as he has struggled ever since a short stint leading off. Will McGillis, Michael Braswell, and Carson Hornung didn’t do well in the spot, either.

On Wednesday, South Carolina baseball added a player who will hopefully be able to fill the top spot of the order in 2024. Left-handed outfielder Austin Brinling put up a .500 on-base percentage and stole 20 of 22 bases in 2023 for North Florida. He announced Wednesday that he will use his final year of eligibility in Columbia to play for South Carolina baseball.

Brinling was a top-500 national player out of high school. He began his collegiate career at Florida, transferred to Daytona State, then left for North Florida.

Now, a graduate transfer, he will have one year to play for the South Carolina baseball program. Brinling will likely be the top candidate to lead off heading into fall practice and would be an ideal fit in the role if he can provide steady on-base production.

In 2024, Carolina returns outfielders Ethan Petry and Evan Stone who started the majority of games in right field and center field in 2023. Dylan Brewer and Caleb Denny could return in 2024 but both players have been in college for four seasons already. Jacob Compton missed all of 2023 but is a candidate to play first or a corner outfield spot next season.

Will Tippett and Carson Hornung could play outfield in the future but seem more in line to play in the infield (Tippett) or serve as the DH (Hornung). Ethan Petry is also a candidate to change positions as he arrived in Columbia as a third baseman. No outfield position seems fully secure (unless Petry stays in a corner outfield spot), so Brinling will have every opportunity to earn a spot.

The 2023 Gamecocks will begin regional play on Friday at 7:00 with a home game against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.