South Carolina baseball's head coach Paul Mainieri picked up a key commitment on the Fourth of July as utility standout Jake Randolph announced that his is joining the Gamecocks via the NCAA transfer portal.
As a junior from Vero Beach, Florida, Randolph has spent the last three seasons at Presbyterian College. He had a breakout season as one of the most consistent bats in the Big South. He is also a former All-State at Vero Beach High School, where he earned MVP honors in Perfect game tournament. He was also selected to Team USA when he was only 14 years old. Randolph will bring both experience and flexibility to the Gamecock roster.
Randolph became a full-time starter last season, slashing .329 with 57 hits, 32 runs, and 32 RBIs over 49 starts. He finished second on the Blue Hose in nearly every major category on the offense. Combined with his ability to hit, catch, and play multiple positions, his versatility makes him the perfect fit for a South Carolina squad looking to retool for a postseason run.
Randolph is the 13th commitment for the Gamecocks from the transfer portal, helping what is currently viewed as a top-five portal class in the country. The addition of Randolph boosts a South Carolina roster that is looking to create a more consistent offense and have veteran leadership as they head into the 2026 season. As Mainieri continues to build towards these goals for his team, and hopefully a return to Omaha, Randolph's versatility and at-bat skills could prove to be crucial.