C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
--South Carolina started its spring scrimmage slate Friday with a six-inning game at Founders Park. The day was largely won by the pitching and defense with the Gamecocks tossing some good arms out against hitters, and for the first day of full spring baseball was crisp. Here are a few more observations:
--The Gamecocks started two of their frontline arms—one veteran and one freshman—in Thomas Farr and Will Sanders and both lived up to the billing in their two innings pitched. Farr allowed the leadoff batter to reach in both innings but did well getting out of the inning each time. He'd get a double play to wipeout a leadoff single in the first and then pick off a runner after a leadoff walk. He'd strike out two with a fastball into the mid-90s (touching 95) with a changeup at 85 and breaking ball topping out at 82.
Sanders was explosive and dynamic in his two innings, allowing two hits but striking out three in two innings. He'd get strikeouts of Brandon Fields and Brennan Milone, showcasing a fastball touching 94 miles per hour and a changeup at 82. His best pitch was a splitter he threw at 84 miles per hour. Both guys are high spin rate pitchers, which allows both to elevate in the strike zone for strikes. Sanders has also put on about 15 pounds since the fall ended, which will help his game.
--Two lefties saw the mound and were really good out of the bullpen in Josiah Sightler and Jackson Phipps. Sightler threw first, pitching around a two-out walk in his first inning then getting a perfect inning after that. Phipps got three straight groundouts in his first inning and gave up a leadoff single before sitting the next three batters down in order. Both are in the upper-80s on their fastball (Phipps touched 91 miles per hour on a fastball) with good breaking balls. Sightler was in the upper-70s on his changeup and breaking ball while Phipps threw a curveball at 77 miles per hour.
--Travis Luensmann and Cade Austin were the other two pitchers to log innings with Luensmann looking very good in his outing. He'd make easy work in his first inning, getting a flyout and two groundouts quickly, before loading the bases and getting out of it. He was up to 92 miles per hour on his fastball but what he doesn't have yet in upper-90s stuff he makes up for in his delivery. It's incredibly deceptive and his arm is insanely live, which gives him some run on his fastball. Austin struggled in his first inning, giving up four hits and a walk and allowed the scrimmage's only runs. He'd struggle with command, but had a fastball in the upper-80s, touching 90, with a changeup at 82.
--One hitter I left really impressed with was Braylen Wimmer, who ended his day going 2-for-3 with a RBI. His bat and plate approach are much more mature and the coaching staff is going to give him some time at first (where he played Friday), and in center mixed with some middle infield as well if needed. He had one well-hit ball and another at just 68 miles per hour off the bat that found some grass, but was able to get on base.
--With Alek Boychuk out for the season, one spot that needs some depth now is catcher and the Gamecocks are trying out a few options there. Colin Burgess is by far and away the starter but Wes Clarke caught the majority of innings today for the Black team and didn't look bad behind the plate. Clarke came in as a catcher to the program but was moved to first and showed the ability to have a good defensive day behind the plate. He's not a finished product by any means but had a few good blocks and was solid in terms of receiving pitchers. Burgess will shoulder the majority of the catching load, but Clarke showed at least today he can be a viable backup.
--Another infielder I was impressed with was Michael Robinson, who will challenge George Callil some at shortstop. Robinson ended his day with a single and another hard-hit ball that was gloved, but he really showed his defensive ability. There were a few plays he made ranging away from first base where he was able to make the play and do it looking relatively routine. It's the first day of scrimmages, but he looked the part defensively and for parts at the plate. He and Callil will likely be the frontrunners for that position. Callil reached base once on a fielder's choice and struck out twice.
--Noah Myers had a run-scoring triple to the gap in right-center, Jack Mahoney also singled and Joe Satterfield drove in some runs as well with a single of his own.
--The Gamecocks started two of their frontline arms—one veteran and one freshman—in Thomas Farr and Will Sanders and both lived up to the billing in their two innings pitched. Farr allowed the leadoff batter to reach in both innings but did well getting out of the inning each time. He'd get a double play to wipeout a leadoff single in the first and then pick off a runner after a leadoff walk. He'd strike out two with a fastball into the mid-90s (touching 95) with a changeup at 85 and breaking ball topping out at 82.
Sanders was explosive and dynamic in his two innings, allowing two hits but striking out three in two innings. He'd get strikeouts of Brandon Fields and Brennan Milone, showcasing a fastball touching 94 miles per hour and a changeup at 82. His best pitch was a splitter he threw at 84 miles per hour. Both guys are high spin rate pitchers, which allows both to elevate in the strike zone for strikes. Sanders has also put on about 15 pounds since the fall ended, which will help his game.
--Two lefties saw the mound and were really good out of the bullpen in Josiah Sightler and Jackson Phipps. Sightler threw first, pitching around a two-out walk in his first inning then getting a perfect inning after that. Phipps got three straight groundouts in his first inning and gave up a leadoff single before sitting the next three batters down in order. Both are in the upper-80s on their fastball (Phipps touched 91 miles per hour on a fastball) with good breaking balls. Sightler was in the upper-70s on his changeup and breaking ball while Phipps threw a curveball at 77 miles per hour.
--Travis Luensmann and Cade Austin were the other two pitchers to log innings with Luensmann looking very good in his outing. He'd make easy work in his first inning, getting a flyout and two groundouts quickly, before loading the bases and getting out of it. He was up to 92 miles per hour on his fastball but what he doesn't have yet in upper-90s stuff he makes up for in his delivery. It's incredibly deceptive and his arm is insanely live, which gives him some run on his fastball. Austin struggled in his first inning, giving up four hits and a walk and allowed the scrimmage's only runs. He'd struggle with command, but had a fastball in the upper-80s, touching 90, with a changeup at 82.
--One hitter I left really impressed with was Braylen Wimmer, who ended his day going 2-for-3 with a RBI. His bat and plate approach are much more mature and the coaching staff is going to give him some time at first (where he played Friday), and in center mixed with some middle infield as well if needed. He had one well-hit ball and another at just 68 miles per hour off the bat that found some grass, but was able to get on base.
--With Alek Boychuk out for the season, one spot that needs some depth now is catcher and the Gamecocks are trying out a few options there. Colin Burgess is by far and away the starter but Wes Clarke caught the majority of innings today for the Black team and didn't look bad behind the plate. Clarke came in as a catcher to the program but was moved to first and showed the ability to have a good defensive day behind the plate. He's not a finished product by any means but had a few good blocks and was solid in terms of receiving pitchers. Burgess will shoulder the majority of the catching load, but Clarke showed at least today he can be a viable backup.
--Another infielder I was impressed with was Michael Robinson, who will challenge George Callil some at shortstop. Robinson ended his day with a single and another hard-hit ball that was gloved, but he really showed his defensive ability. There were a few plays he made ranging away from first base where he was able to make the play and do it looking relatively routine. It's the first day of scrimmages, but he looked the part defensively and for parts at the plate. He and Callil will likely be the frontrunners for that position. Callil reached base once on a fielder's choice and struck out twice.
--Noah Myers had a run-scoring triple to the gap in right-center, Jack Mahoney also singled and Joe Satterfield drove in some runs as well with a single of his own.
