re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion

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-- Class of 2015 left-handed pitcher Doug Gressly (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O’Connell) is a name to certainly keep an eye on. He doesn’t have an offer at this point but he’s someone who could pick one up very quickly. He pitches for the same Canes team as several current commitments. He’s been an outfielder most of his career but is just beginning to make the transition to the mound in a full-time capacity. He was 85-87 mph with his fastball in a recent outing and didn’t give up an earned run over three innings pitched. He’s 6-foot-2, 175 pounds and fits the mold of many of the left-handed pitchers who have come through the team in recent seasons. South Carolina is currently Gressley’s top school and he has family ties as his grandfather used to be a professor and his father was a football season ticket holder at one point.

-- Another class of 2015 arm, RHP Cody Morris (Laurel, Md./Reservoir), is another name to keep an eye on. Morris, a power righty, already has several offers to his credit, including one from Virginia. He’s ranked as the No. 88 player nationally in his class and he has high interest in the Gamecocks at this point. Morris will throw in a showcase this week in Columbia and South Carolina will make its offer and its pitch to him this weekend. A decision isn’t necessarily imminent for Morris but this will be an important week for South Carolina.

-- One 2014 player that the staff is going to take a close look at is right-handed pitcher Evan Warden (Kokomo, Ind./Western). Warden, who plays for Indiana Prospects in showcase baseball, pitched a total of 10 innings last weekend with 15 strikeouts. He didn’t give up any runs and only three hits. Warden’s fastball climbs into the upper 80s. He also throws a curve ball, slider, and changeup. He’s close with current 2014 commitment Brandon Murray (Hobart, Ind./Hobart). Warden has yet to visit South Carolina but the Gamecocks are his number one school. South Carolina coaches plan to see him in the U17 WWBA tournament in Marietta, Ga. the first week of July at the latest to evaluate him. He’s a player who has flown under the radar some.

-- Class of 2013 right-handed pitcher Tyler Haswell was recently named the Gwinnett Daily Post Pitcher of the Year. Haswell also pitch at Carolina Stadium on Wednesday night in a showcase game against the Upstate Mavericks. He allowed only one run in his outing. He showed an upper 80s fastball and very good feel for his changeup.

-- The aforementioned Brandon Murray (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) has seen a recent spike to his velocity. He was an upper 80s to 90 mph pitcher at the time of his commitment but has been into the mid-90s at the end of his high school season. Last week at the Perfect Game Underclassman Showcase, he hit 95 mph on his first pitch. With performances like that, Murray is certainly going to get his share of professional heat watching him this year. It’s too soon to say where guys will go, if they’ll sign, and those kinds of things right now but the 2014 class has a chance to be hit pretty hard by the MLB Draft. Of course, the 2013 class did, too, but the Gamecocks won this past draft season. We’ll see how 2014 plays out.

-- Other players we’ve heard very positive reports on over their first few weeks of summer baseball include 2013s: Outfielder Zack Madden … 2014s: RHP Tyler Johnson, who threw six innings for the Richmond Braves and allowed one unearned run against the top Diamond Devils U17 team; RHP Clarke Schimdt, who one scout told after watching him at PG National was going to be a great college arm as he continues to develop. 2B Jared Williams, who has played very well defensively and has impressed players we have spoken to on opposing teams. OF KJ Bryant, who threw 94 mph from the outfield at the PG National and has an accurate arm. … 2015s: SS LT Tolbert, who has been a consistent offensive producer for the Canes both for power and for average. LHP Kyle Anderson, who allowed one hit in three innings at PG National striking out three hitters. He topped at 84 mph but worked mainly in the low 80s. PG writes that “with his thin, medium build and easy arm action, it’s easy to expect a tick in Anderson’s stuff once he fills out a bit.”

-- Class of 2015 uncommitted catcher Matt Anderson showed why he’s considered one of the best defensive prospects at his position in his class. At the PG National Showcase, he registerd the second-best pop time at the event at 1.85.

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