South Carolina Baseball: Gamecock slugger announces return to Columbia

South Carolina baseball has the potential to have one of the top lineups in college baseball next season. An excellent start to the 2023 season offensively faltered down the stretch, but next season’s Gamecock offense could be more complete.

Carolina is losing to graduation shortstop Braylen Wimmer and second baseman Will McGillis as everyday contributors and infielder Michael Braswell (who was pressed into duty as McGillis and Wimmer battled injuries) left via the transfer portal. Wimmer could return to school if he elected to use his “Covid redshirt,” but he is expected to keep his name in the 2023 MLB Draft.

One player that could be taken in the draft is first baseman Gavin Casas. However, on Saturday, the left-handed slugger announced on Twitter that he would be returning to the South Carolina baseball program.

Casas’ return to Columbia could be huge for the Gamecocks. The former Vanderbilt Commodore has prodigious power potential, and even though the ball stopped leaving the yard toward the end of the season for #48, he still finished the year with 19 home runs, good for 2nd on the team (behind Ethan Petry) and 11th in the SEC.

Casas was 4th on the 2023 Gamecock squad in slugging percentage and 2nd in walks (and also 2nd in hit-by-pitches), and that combination of power and on-base ability is a needed commodity on every baseball team.

While South Carolina baseball is still a couple of months away from fall practice and seven months away from the beginning of next season, Casas profiles as a player that can realistically hit anywhere from 3rd to 8th in next year’s order. His glove at first base was constantly improving throughout the season, as well, and his left-handedness is nice in a lineup loaded with righties.

Players like Ethan Petry, Talmadge LeCroy, Carson Hornung, Parker Noland, and Jacob Compton could factor into the first base job next season, but Casas should be considered the starter heading into fall camp. Petry, obviously, will play somewhere, but it is unclear if he will stay in right field. LeCroy, Noland, and Compton have some minor positional versatility, as well.

Casas’ brother Triston plays first base for the Boston Red Sox, and if younger brother Gavin can improve upon a solid 2023 campaign, he will put himself in a good position to join his brother in Major League Baseball sooner rather than later.