Mark Kingston breaks down few position battles, team health
No, South Carolina doesn’t have an opening day lineup set in stone three months before the season starts. But the Gamecocks do have a few positions in more heated battles than others.
South Carolina’s biggest position battles right now center up the middle defensively, and Mark Kingston updated a few in his post-fall media availability.
The first is the catcher position.
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“I think we’re in good hands regardless of who we put out there. French came in as a transfer this year and has good potential to do good things. If you were here for game three of the world series, you saw what his potential is. He hit a homer, hit a single for an RBI at 106 miles per hour, he caught well. That’s why he was brought in here,” Kingston said.
“On his best days, he’s got a chance to be really good. That being said, his coming in really motivated LeCroy and Messina to work harder than they’ve worked. Their games have all taken big steps, both defensively and offensively. Zander Buchan is our fourth guy and as a freshman will provide solid depth for us. All of those guys are more than capable of catching at a very high level in the SEC.”
French is the veteran of the group, transferring in from Clemson over the offseason. He’ll compete with sophomore–and another former top 300 prospect–Cole Messina and utility infielder Talmadge LeCroy.
Both have caught in the past and showed flashes, especially offensively, to impact things in a positive way.
Also up the middle, the Gamecocks have a competition brewing in centerfield with two veterans and a freshman duking it out.
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Evan Stone is the incumbent, playing in 46 games last year and slashing .184/.317/.207 but playing fantastic defense. His offense has taken a step forward this fall after hitting .292/.379/.337 over the summer.
Left-handed bat Dylan Brewer is the other veteran in that competition. Brewer is a career .212/.329/.385 hitter in three seasons at Clemson.
Stone has made a really big jump offensively this fall. Monte’s done a really nice job with him…Stone has a legitimate chance to be out there cause his offense has come so far. We all know what his defense is. His defense is capable of being in the major leagues some days if the bat gets close to that,” Kingston said.
“Dylan Brewer can play center or right and can play left as well. Dylan’s being looked at in center and right field. He had a good fall, hit over .300, stole some bases and is a good defender, especially in right field. Not quite the defender in centerfield Stone is but more than capable.”
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Switch-hitting utility freshman Will Tippett–a top 500 prospect in the 2022 class–can also play there.
“Then Will Tippett is a switch hitter who is a 6.5 runner who can be a super utility guy for us,” Kingston said. “He’s a speed guy who can really spark your lineup from both sides of the plate.”
Kingston also updated the first base competition, headlined by power-hitting Vandy transfer Gavin Casas.
“Gavin Casas was our best hitter by a good margin this fall,” Kingston said. “I think he’s going to put it all together this fall from a power perspective, from a plate discipline perspective. He was everything you hoped a first baseman and big left-handed hitter can be.”
A knee injury ended his season prematurely, but Casas hit .294/.381/.412 in 22 games. He’ll compete with Messina, Will McGillis and Jacob Compton there.
Kingston also spoke on a potential timetable for Roman Kimball’s prognosis, who is shut down with an arm injury.
“It’ll be fairly soon. It’s a little bit of a privacy issue right now working through some things and meeting with doctors,” Kingston said. “But when he’s comfortable and our athletic trainers and doctors are comfortable making the next step and announcing it, you’ll know.”
