South Carolina Baseball: Gamecock star gets called up to the Show with the Cincinnati Reds
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina baseball has several big-time alums in Major League Baseball. Players like Jackie Bradley, Jr., Whit Merrifield, Christian Walker, and Jordan Montgomery have put together very good careers at the highest level of professional baseball, and a slew of others are working their way through the Minor Leagues.
Now, one more Gamecock has made his way to the Show. Outfielder TJ Hopkins was called up to the Bigs on Saturday by the Cincinnati Reds. Hopkins, now 26 years old, was a 9th-round pick of the Reds in the 2019 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft after four seasons in Columbia. Hopkins is the 58th Gamecock called up to Major League Baseball.
Hopkins has hit well ever since joining the Reds organization. He hit 22 home runs between AA and AAA in 2022 and started the 2023 season hot in AAA again. His .977 OPS was one of the best numbers in all of Minor League Baseball as the outfielder had smacked 21 extra-base hits already in the young season. His speed adds an element to the game both on the bases and on defense.
Now with the Big League ballclub, Hopkins will have every opportunity to play. Jake Fraley is the outfielder on the active roster who has real job security, and Hopkins has the versatility to play all three spots. Infielder Nick Senzel has seen time in the outfield out of necessity, and Hopkins gives the Reds the ability to return the former 2nd overall pick to a true utility role.
Cincinnati is not a very good team, but they have been better than expected at 26-31 and are in third place in the NL Central. Because of the woefulness of the division as a whole, the Reds are just 4 games back of the 1st-place Brewers (30-27), so Hopkins has a chance to play a big role in a tight division race.
Hopkins debuted as a pinch hitter Saturday evening against Brewers All-Star closer Devin Williams, and the former South Carolina baseball star drew a bases-loaded walk to notch his first career RBI.
Hopkins’ Gamecocks advanced Saturday evening to the regional finals of the Columbia regional and will play against the winner of NC State and Campbell for a chance to make it to the super regional round.