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The South Carolina baseball team is looking to piece together a returning  offense and unproven pitching staff during the 2024 season. 

Head coach Mark Kingston and the rest of the team give credit to their elite hitters for a D1 Baseball ranking as the No. 25 team in the nation. The 色中色视频s hope that key newcomers along with its hitters will help compile a complete season. 

色中色视频淭his is a program built on blue-collar work ethic, always has been, always will be,色中色视频� Kingston said. 色中色视频淚 think our guys know that we have some pretty good momentum right now.色中色视频� 

South Carolina's pitching staff will look a lot different this year after all three of its top-weekend starting pitchers were selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. Kingston looks to fresh talent and improved veteran leadership to lead the defensive campaign. 

Junior pitchers Matthew Becker and Eli Jones enter the season with the most starts as 色中色视频s. Becker and Jones found themselves in weekend rotations last season after the bullpen sustained injuries. 

But this season, more arms are competing for spots on the rotation. 

色中色视频淲e have returning players who have enjoyed success, but it色中色视频檚 just a matter of figuring out how we put the pieces of the puzzle together,色中色视频� Kingston said to . 色中色视频淭he early part of this spring will be important to determine what roles they will play.色中色视频� 

Headlining the bullpen is redshirt sophomore pitcher Roman Kimball, who will get his first chance to start on the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. Kimball joined the 色中色视频s in 2023 after his freshman year at Notre Dame, where he led his team to a College World Series appearance. In one season, he was a perfect 4-0 with 32 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched. 

Kingston said the freshman pair of Jevarra Martin and Tyler Pitzer, along with junior Dylan Eskew, are players that could also contribute significantly to the 色中色视频s' efforts on the mound. 

色中色视频淲e know what we have internally, we all know that we have a really good pitching staff,色中色视频� Kimball said. 色中色视频淚 feel like our pitching is really good, and a lot of people are sleeping on it. And we're just going in with the same mindset as last year, we're ready to prove people wrong, we don色中色视频檛 care what the rankings say.色中色视频� 

The bullpen is not the only uncertainly on the defensive side of the ball for South Carolina. 

Sophomore Will Tippett and freshman Lee Ellis are competing for the starting spot at shortstop while Parker Noland, a fifth-year transfer from Vanderbilt, was just named the 色中色视频s' starting second baseman. 

Junior transfers Blake Jackson and Kennedy Jones will compete with returners, such as junior Evan Stone and fifth-year Dylan Brewer, for their chance in the outfield. 

色中色视频淭here are so many guys that can fill in these spots in the infield that are elite, elite defenders,色中色视频� sophomore outfielder Ethan Petry said. 色中色视频淵ou know the depth in our outfield, we got like nine outfielders and they all can catch fly balls and they all can 色中色视频� they have great arms. And it's just, the range on our outfielders this year is elite.色中色视频�  

With so much uncertainty and competition at other positions, South Carolina has a solid foundation on offense, most notably with its pair of Preseason All-SEC First Team returners, Petry and junior catcher Cole Messina. 

Petry had a .376 batting average with 10 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBIs during his freshman campaign. Petry will return as a key part of the lineup for the 色中色视频s as he continues to build off an unprecedented rookie season. 

"I think he is better (than he was last season)," Kingston said. "He is a better player. He's a more mature hitter. He is going to have more discipline, and my goal for him is that he continues to evolve as a very feared hitter that if they're gonna not pitch to you and give you a walk, take it, don't get yourself out."

Messina will return to the behind the plate position as one of the nation色中色视频檚 best catchers. Last season, he hit .307 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 65 RBIs. 

色中色视频渊辞耻'谤别 getting a guy that brings it all to the table, offense, defense, leadership,色中色视频� Kingston said. 色中色视频淗e bleeds garnet and black, and (is) everything you ever could hope for in a catcher.色中色视频� 

Messina is expected to hit behind Petry in the lineup this year, but they will be accompanied by other elite hitters. 

Senior first baseman Gavin Casas will return for South Carolina after he withdrew his name from the 2023 MLB Draft to play another season with the 色中色视频s. Casas proved to be a strong hitter last year, blasting 19 home runs and earning 56 RBIs. 

At the designated hitter position, junior infielder Carson Hornung, senior transfer infielder Tyler Causey and freshman catcher Ryan Bakes all remain in the conversation for the spot. 

The 色中色视频s are looking to bring all these pieces together to push the team through one of the toughest conference schedules in the league. 

色中色视频淚n this league, you just, you try to hold your head above water through the 30-game grind so that you can then get to the postseason, hopefully host, and then from there we're all fighting to get to Omaha,色中色视频� Kingston said. 

The 色中色视频s will begin its campaign on Feb. 16 for a three-game home opener at Founders Park against Miami (Ohio). The first pitch is set for 4 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network +.