All-Star break check in on South Carolina baseball alums

The South Carolina baseball program has a number of big-time former alums who are on Major League Baseball rosters.

Heading into the break before the All-Star Game (about 3/5 of the way through the season), how are these former Gamecocks doing during the 2024 season?

Christian Walker, First Baseman, Arizona Diamondbacks
.264/.343/.495/.838; 22 home runs, 19 doubles, 66 RBI, 58 runs

Christian Walker is having another Christian Walker season. The former Gamecock remains one of the most underrated players in all of professional baseball and was the biggest snub from this summer's MLB All-Star Game.

On the year, Walker ranks in the top-10, regardless of position, in all of Major League Baseball in many offensive stats and has been a top-3 National League first baseman all season. He is on pace to win another Gold Glove and is having the best overall offensive year of his career.

Jonah Bride, Third Baseman/First Baseman/Second Baseman, Miami Marlins
.231/.250/.269/.519; 1 double, 5 RBI, 2 runs

An offseason trade acquisition from the Oakland Athletics, Jonah Bride started the 2024 season in the Minors. He was called up for a short time by the Big League club and played 7 games in the corner infield for the Marlins. He didn't hit the ball particularly well and was sent back down to the Triple-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

Bride recently was recalled to the Big League club and has filled in for a few games.

Whit Merrifield, Utility Player, Philadelphia Phillies
.199/.277/.295/.572; 3 home runs, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 11 RBI, 21 runs, 11 stolen bases

Whit Merrifield was an All-Star at the halfway point of the 2023 season for the Toronto Blue Jays but didn't play his best down the stretch. That slow finish to the year seems to have carried over into the 2024 campaign as he has career-worst offensive numbers across the board.

Merrifield was released earlier this week but likely will catch on with another team soon.

Jordan Montgomery, Left-Handed Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
6-5; 6.44 ERA; 1.675 WHIP; 45-23 K/BB ratio

After signing a one-year, big money contract this offseason, Jordan Montgomery fired his agent Scott Boras for not netting him a well-deserved long-term deal. His performance during the first half of the season didn't do many favors for his hope of getting one next offseason, either.

Montgomery is having the worst year of his professional career and wound up on the injured list the first week of July. He is expected to return, so hopefully the time off will allow him to correct whatever has him out of sorts this season.

Clarke Schmidt, Right-Handed Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees
5-3; 2.52 ERA; 1.14 WHIP; 67-20 K/BB ratio

Clarke Schmidt has become one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball. Since the start of last year, he has delivered 40 starts with 3 earned runs allowed or fewer. That was the most in baseball through May of this year, but, unfortunately, Schmidt suffered a lat strain and has been on the IL ever since.

Schmidt was moved to the 60-day IL, meaning his earliest possible return would be July 30th. His injury likely will keep him from making the All-Star Game this season despite his worthiness of selection. If he returns when eligible, Schmidt will join a team that has legitimate World Series aspirations.

Carmen Mlodzinski, Right-Handed Relief Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
1-3; 3.38 ERA; 1.16 WHIP; 26-11 K/BB ratio

Having received his first MLB call-up in 2023, Carmen Mlodzinski had a nice rookie season. He had a delayed start to the 2024 campaign with an injury and struggled mightily after being brought back to the active roster, surrendering multiple runs in 3 of his first 4 appearances.

Since then, though, the second-year pitcher has been utterly dominant. Mlodzinksi has allowed just 3 runs in over 23 innings of work since May 30th. He also boasts a 21-7 K/BB ratio since the early-season struggles and has brought his season ERA down from 12.71 to 3.38 as he has pitched in a variety of roles for the black and gold.