2027 commit Carson Bruce plans to make an impact 'as soon as I step foot on campus'

As the clock struck midnight and the calendar flipped to August, Carson Bruce stayed up with some of his friends to see if he would get a call from any college coaches.

At 12:05 a.m., the first call came in. It was South Carolina hitting coach Monte Lee, who wanted to get him on an official visit to Columbia. Lee and the Gamecocks were among many interested in Bruce.

“I ended up with a good amount of other calls that day,” Bruce told GamecockCentral. “I think I ended with about 25-ish visit opportunities, schools that were trying to get me on a visit. So that was fun.”

Bruce eventually narrowed his top choices down to six, then down to three with Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina still standing. He took his visits to the first two schools and liked what he saw. But there was something different about South Carolina, which fittingly was his last official visit.

“I mean, I visited some great schools, but South Carolina for sure stood out,” he said. “I was really blown away by everything, not just like the facilities and all, but just hearing the coaches speak. And I mean, obviously, Coach (Paul) Mainieri is a college baseball legend, so getting to talk with him was great, and then speaking with Monte about just how they’re going to develop me and the other guys offensively.”

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What ultimately sold Bruce on the idea of becoming a Gamecock was the relationship he quickly established with Lee, who has been a fan favorite amongst the players over the years.

“He’s a cool guy. He cuts up a good bit, but he’s got a great relationship with all his players, too. It’s just super strong,” Bruce said. “I really enjoyed talking with him about his vision for the program and how they’re going to shape it up this year, and then carried on into when I’m there, and then how he can develop me and the other offensive guys. I think he’s really got a lot of good stuff going on.”

It was enough for Bruce, a Powder Springs, Georgia native, to pick South Carolina over even his home-state school in Georgia as well as Kentucky. He officially committed on Sept. 22.

An outfielder and first baseman at North Cobb Christian High School, Bruce prides himself on using the entire field to his advantage when he’s at the plate.

“I feel like I’ve got good bat-to-ball skills and can really impact the ball to all fields, for sure,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in being grimy on the base path, like once I get on there, I’ve got some good speed, so once I get on first, however I can. I love to read dirt balls, steal a bag, just give the pitcher a hard time, honestly. Just take pride in putting pressure on the other team.”

Bruce has also seen action as a left-handed pitcher, but you won’t see him on the mound when he gets to South Carolina. The plan is for him to be a position player in college, whether it’s as an outfielder or first baseman.

“I feel like the goal, of course, is to do whatever the team needs me to do, whatever puts us in the best position. But obviously, the goal is to keep progressing as a defender,” Bruce said. “I feel like I’m pretty good in the outfield and play centerfield, but then if I have to early play a different position, like left or right (field), because it makes more sense for the team, of course, I would do that.”

Since the contact period began on Aug. 1, South Carolina has built up its 2027 recruiting class with five public commitments, including Bruce as one of the latest. He’s already been in contact with the other commits in his class and believes the Gamecocks are building something special so far.

“We want to get a good class around me, and we want to take this thing to Omaha,” Bruce said. “Obviously, it’s no easy road, but for me personally, my goal, obviously, is making an impact day one. So until then, I’m going to be working as hard as I can to make an impact as soon as I step foot on campus.

“Obviously, it’s not going to be easy at a fine program like South Carolina, but I really think that with a good class around us, and then they’re going to do some great work this year, that we could take this thing to Omaha while I’m there.”

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