On Sunday, South Carolina baseball coach Paul Mainieri and his staff reeled in a big fish as infielder Gavin Byrd announced his commitment to the Gamecock program.
Byrd, who has played primarily as a shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman during his high school career, is a class of 2026 prospect from Lakeland, Florida. Throwing and hitting from the right side, Byrd is a high school junior who will join the South Carolina baseball program after two more years of high school development.
As a player, the talented infielder has the requisite athleticism and smooth glove needed to play the middle infield at the next level, and he has the type of frame that could add the size and weight needed to become a power-hitting corner infielder. His strong arm has developed a lot over the past year or two, and his sprint speed on the bases is improving, as well, making him a potential weapons as a guy who can steal bases or take extra ones with the ball in play.
Byrd has the chance to be a very good bat in college, and the future Gamecock has lots of traits to like at the plate. On his film, he shows a smooth stroke with quick hands, and even on swings that aren't his best, he finds a way to get the barrel on the baseball. With good size and athleticism, his ability to find the barrel will translate to future power potential.
South Carolina now has six players committed in the 2026 cycle, and Byrd is the third from out-of-state. He joins recent pitching pledges Aaron Dierks and Walker Cox and prospects Jackson Robinson, Parker McGee, and Cameron Jackson in the class. He is one of three infielders in the '26 class, along with McGee and Jackson.