C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
Baseball started back up a few weeks ago with the team doing some limited workouts as a group, so I wanted to pass along a few notes I've been able to pick up since fall ball started back.
--Pitching is once again going to be really good this year and might be one of the deepest staffs in recent memory. There have been a lot of guys who have shown plus velocity and the ability to ratchet their fastballs into the mid-to-upper 90s. Bringing back 2/3 of your starting rotation that was really good plus this incoming class will do that. A lot of those pitchers have been impressive in limited work this fall.
--Speaking of some of those pitchers, I was told right hander Thomas Farr's fastball was sitting 96 miles per hour in a few live at-bats this fall while Brannon Jordan was at 92 to 94 on his fastball. Both guys should be in the mix for a starting spot this season and will have some competition for the role.
--Left-handed pitcher Julian Bosnic I was told is looking great this fall after just a few innings this spring off Tommy John Surgery. He pitched this summer and came back to Columbia throwing sitting in the low 90s on his fastball and touching 94 with three other quality pitches to throw behind him. It's still a long way out but he could potentially earn a spot in the weekend rotation if Skylar Meade wants to put a lefty on the weekend as well. He's shown some very encouraging things since arriving back on campus.
--In terms of newcomers in the pitcher group, CJ Weins has shown some really good stuff, sitting 91 to 94 miles per hour. He has an interesting delivery and can be used in a lot of different ways whether it's as a starter or a back end of the bullpen kind of guy with really good breaking stuff as well. Mag Cotto I was also told is a "dude." The freshman turned down significant money to come to school and is impressing already with his fastball and his breaking stuff. Before coming to school he was already in the mid-90s from the left side.
--As for the offensive guys, both outfielder Noah Myers and catcher Colin Burgess came back this fall and are showcasing a little more power to their games than what was available last season. Burgess played this summer in the Northwoods league but Myers didn't play summer ball, I believe sticking around Columbia for some of the summer and working out.
--I was also told freshman Brandon Fields is "legit" and is catching on quickly to hitting at the college level. That was always the biggest question for him is if his bat would catch up to SEC-level pitching and he's done a good job of that so far. The staff uses pitching machines and cranks those things up pretty high to get players accustomed to velocity and Fields was able to handle that pretty well for a freshman. He's someone who could early some playing time in the outfield this season. He's a bat that's going to help South Carolina this season.
Fall scrimmages start this week, so we'll have much more on the team as it comes.
--Pitching is once again going to be really good this year and might be one of the deepest staffs in recent memory. There have been a lot of guys who have shown plus velocity and the ability to ratchet their fastballs into the mid-to-upper 90s. Bringing back 2/3 of your starting rotation that was really good plus this incoming class will do that. A lot of those pitchers have been impressive in limited work this fall.
--Speaking of some of those pitchers, I was told right hander Thomas Farr's fastball was sitting 96 miles per hour in a few live at-bats this fall while Brannon Jordan was at 92 to 94 on his fastball. Both guys should be in the mix for a starting spot this season and will have some competition for the role.
--Left-handed pitcher Julian Bosnic I was told is looking great this fall after just a few innings this spring off Tommy John Surgery. He pitched this summer and came back to Columbia throwing sitting in the low 90s on his fastball and touching 94 with three other quality pitches to throw behind him. It's still a long way out but he could potentially earn a spot in the weekend rotation if Skylar Meade wants to put a lefty on the weekend as well. He's shown some very encouraging things since arriving back on campus.
--In terms of newcomers in the pitcher group, CJ Weins has shown some really good stuff, sitting 91 to 94 miles per hour. He has an interesting delivery and can be used in a lot of different ways whether it's as a starter or a back end of the bullpen kind of guy with really good breaking stuff as well. Mag Cotto I was also told is a "dude." The freshman turned down significant money to come to school and is impressing already with his fastball and his breaking stuff. Before coming to school he was already in the mid-90s from the left side.
--As for the offensive guys, both outfielder Noah Myers and catcher Colin Burgess came back this fall and are showcasing a little more power to their games than what was available last season. Burgess played this summer in the Northwoods league but Myers didn't play summer ball, I believe sticking around Columbia for some of the summer and working out.
--I was also told freshman Brandon Fields is "legit" and is catching on quickly to hitting at the college level. That was always the biggest question for him is if his bat would catch up to SEC-level pitching and he's done a good job of that so far. The staff uses pitching machines and cranks those things up pretty high to get players accustomed to velocity and Fields was able to handle that pretty well for a freshman. He's someone who could early some playing time in the outfield this season. He's a bat that's going to help South Carolina this season.
Fall scrimmages start this week, so we'll have much more on the team as it comes.
