South Carolina baseball fans have been itching to watch the YardCocks again since last summer. For the first time since 2018, the Gamecocks made it to the Super Regionals, and Mark Kingston's team has a real chance to use 2023 as a stepping stone to an even better season in 2024.
The Gamecocks return most of their top hitters from 2023, and a few high-upside transfer portal additions could make the lineup even more formidable than their top-10 output from last year. Several important names from last year's team have had their starting roles challenged by newcomers this offseason.
The pitching is a much bigger question mark. However, the combination of returning arms and new players (both freshmen and transfers) gives new pitching coach Matt Williams plenty of arms who are capable of producing at an SEC level. Will they be able to put it together to hold their own in the best conference in college baseball?
In addition to Williams, USC also welcomes new assistant coach Joey Holcomb who will work with hitters and recruiting, working alongside associate head coach Monte Lee and head coach Mark Kingston in both of those areas.
Founders Park surely will be buzzing on Friday afternoon when the Miami (OH) Redhawks come to Columbia. But what should South Carolina baseball fans expect from their favorite team this season?