Highly touted prospect announces he will join South Carolina baseball program

The 2024 MLB Draft has seen a fair amount of garnet and black selections. South Carolina baseball signee PJ Morlando (Miami Marlins; Round 1, Pick 16) was taken on the opening day of the draft. Day two saw catcher Cole Messina (Colorado Rockies; Round 3, Pick 77), junior college signee Brandon Clarke (Boston Red Sox; Round 5, Pick 148), pitcher Eli Jones (Minnesota Twins; Round 7, Pick 218), and Garrett Gainey (Tampa Bay Rays; Round 9, Pick 218) rounded out day 2.

From the high school signing class, right-handed pitcher Carson Messina (Toronto Blue Jays; Round 12, Pick 367) was the only Gamecock taken on the third day of the draft. Part of the reason no other Gamecock or Gamecock signee was taken was because one prospect announced he was forgoing his change to play professional ball for the time being.

River Bluff High School product Beau Hollins, whose father Dave and uncle Paul both played for the South Carolina baseball program, signed with USC out of the class of 2024. However, because he was a highly touted prospect, whether he would enroll in school or start his pro career was unclear. During the third day of the draft, with a post to his Instagram account, Hollins made it clear he would wear garnet and black next year.

As a player, Hollins is a big switch hitter who has some really solid power potential. He primarily has played 1st base on defense and has pitched some, as well. He is a lefty who has some good velocity behind his fastball, but his powerful stroke as a hitter (one that earned his father an All-Star Game berth in 1993 with the Philadelphia Phillies) is what has fans most excited.

As PJ Morlando and Carson Messina were the only South Carolina baseball high school signees who were taken in the 2024 MLB Draft, it is believed that the rest of the class will play college ball next season. However, due to scholarship constraints (the Gamecocks are over the limit right now), it will be interesting to see if all of the class winds up in Columbia with Hollins.