South Carolina Baseball alum is a World Series champion

South Carolina baseball great Jordan Montgomery just missed out on winning a College World Series during his time with the Gamecocks. After back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011, USC lost in the College World Series finals in 2012 when Montgomery was a freshman. The YardCocks did not make it back to the World Series during Gumby’s career in garnet and black.

After being drafted by the New York Yankees, it seemed like a championship would be Montgomery’s soon. After all, the Bronx Bombers have won 27 titles, significantly more than any other team. Not only did the Yankees not make a World Series while he was in New York, the franchise left him off of their postseason roster, arguing that he wasn’t good enough to help the team in the MLB Postseason.

Fast forward just a few seasons into the future, and Jordan Montgomery is a World Series champion with the Texas Rangers. Not only is he a champ, but Mongtomery joined with Nathan Eovaldi to be one of the best 1-2 punches in recent MLB Postseason history.

Eovaldi tied the modern record for most wins in a single postseason (5), and Montgomery actually put up better numbers than his teammates. In six postseason appearances (three of them scoreless), Gumby posted a 2.90 ERA and a 17/5 K/BB ratio.

After being dumped by the Yankees in a trade last season, Montgomery was dealt again at this season’s MLB Trade Deadline, but he was viewed as an “all-in” move from the Texas Rangers as they sought out the franchise’s first World Series title. He was tremendous down the stretch, and that success continued through the MLB Postseason.

Had it not been for the historic offensive output from Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia, Montgomery would have been the ALCS MVP, joining fellow Gamecock Jackie Bradley, Jr. in that elusive fraternity.

In the World Series, Gumby and the Rangers knocked off former South Carolina baseball teammate Christian Walker and the Arizona Diamondbacks in just 5 games.

Adding to the Gamecock connection, shortstop Corey Seager was named the World Series MVP. Seager was a 1st-round pick of the LA Dodgers back in 2012, but he was signed to play college baseball before the Dodgers offered him too much money to pass up after drafting him.