Gamecock infielder Gavin Casas uses the transfer portal to reunite with his childhood friend
Jordan Carrion joined the South Carolina Baseball team during the offseason. For the first time in his collegiate career, he isn’t playing in his home state.
From Miami, Florida, Carrion started his career at the University of Florida but transferred to Florida State after his freshman year.
Carrion is venturing away from the Sunshine state to play for South Carolina during his senior year, but he still has a piece of home with him. It comes in the form of a familiar face by his side.
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Carrion went to American Heritage for high school in Plantation, Florida with current Gamecock Gavin Casas. The two’s history goes even further back than that.
“I think we first met when we were like 10,” Casas told GamecockCentral’s Jack Veltri in a Garnet Trust exclusive interview. “So I’ve known him for a good portion of my life and we’ve been best friends ever since high school.”
Their senior seasons of high school baseball ended prematurely at American Heritage due to COVID-19. Casas and Carrion played 10 games together before the year ended and they went their separate ways.
Casas said the two kept contact with each other through their years of playing college baseball in different states.
When Casas and his teammates saw that Carrion entered the portal, they asked Casas if he could make it happen. Casas made it his mission to make his childhood friend a Gamecock.
Casas said he called Carrion to propose their reunion and Carrion agreed. The two talked to head coach Mark Kingston and recruiting coordinator/assistant coach Monte Lee to get the ball rolling.
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Carrion joining the Gamecocks is his second transfer and third college, making his eligibility questionable. The team is waiting to hear from the NCAA if he is eligible to play this season.
If his eligibility is approved, South Carolina gains a player who hit .265 with Florida State in 2023. Carrion appeared in 48 games for the Seminoles last season, starting all but one.
Carrion spent his time playing shortstop in 2023 and if given the green light by the NCAA, he could compete for the starting position for South Carolina.
Casas is no stranger to the transfer portal, having joined the Gamecocks after spending two years as a Vanderbilt Commodore. Last year was his first with South Carolina and he tallied 56 hits, 60 runs, 19 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Casas, Carrion and the Gamecocks enter the season ranked No. 25 by D1 Baseball, a fall from where the team finished last season at No. 13.
South Carolina kicks off its season at home this Friday, Feb. 16 against Miami (OH). First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Founders Park.
