Holbrook Talks Pitching

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Based on the group's performance in fall practice, though, Holbrook is encouraged USC will be improved on the mound in 2016.

"I was certainly encouraged by the way a lot of our pitchers threw the ball," Holbrook said recently. "For the most part, our pitchers had the upper hand on the hitters. Their numbers were good and they threw strikes. Their velocities were good. But we have some holes to fill on our pitching staff.

"Some of the guys stepped up. Some of the guys that have been around the block here have improved. Some of the guys that haven't pitched in the past are going to be in some significant roles this spring. The depth of our pitching staff in terms of who I'm comfortable with putting in the game is a little bit deeper than we were a year ago."

Sophomore right-hander Clarke Schmidt amassed the second most starts on the Gamecocks staff in 2015 (10) and saw his role balloon when Crowe was sidelined for the season in mid-April.

At the moment, Schmidt (2-2, 4.81 ERA in 58.0 IP) is the favorite to secure the coveted Friday night starter's role.

"I'm not sure you can have a more impressive fall than what he had," Holbrook said. "He is much improved, velocity is up, breaking ball is better, command is a lot better.

"He is a different guy than he was a year ago. He was pretty good last year, but he is a different guy. If we played tomorrow, Schmidt would get the ball. But there is still some competition going on."

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Saves leader Taylor Widener sat out fall practice with an injury, but should be ready to compete for a spot in the weekend rotation or resume his closer role when preseason camp gets underway. He was set to begin bullpen sessions this month.

"We feel good about his recovery up to this point," Holbrook said. "He could be a weekend starter if he comes back healthy and ready to go."

Widener is expected to compete with freshman RHP Braden Webb (Owasso, Okla.), JUCO transfer Collie Bowers (Lexington native/USC Sumter), lefthander Josh Reagan and possibly others for one of the two weekend starting jobs behind Schmidt.

"Josh Reagan had a great fall," Holbrook said. "He dominated our hitters. Josh had pitched around 82 to 84 miles per hour and won with location and getting guys out by changing speeds. Now he's 87 to 88 and a different guy.

"If he can maintain that in the spring with his location and command and change-up, Josh becomes a conversation piece about how we use him. Do we pitch him on the weekend or do we put him in some valuable spots at the end of the game? He was extremely impressive."

Webb was rated among the top four high school prospects in Oklahoma by Perfect Game and Baseball America for the 2015 MLB Draft.

"Braden Webb has the arm and the talent to be a weekend starter, no doubt about that," Holbrook said. "Bowers threw very well this fall. He might have been one of the pleasant surprises of the fall. We have some options (at weekend starter)."

Veterans John Parke (9.1 IP in 2015), Tyler Haswell (8.2), Matthew Vogel (17.0) and Alex Destino (0.2 IP) pitched infrequently last season, but could see their roles expand in 2016 following strong performances in the fall.

"Those guys have really improved on the mound, which is something that's stood out to me," Holbrook said.

Destino, of course, was a talented two-way performer in high school in western North Carolina and filled the DH role for most of last season as a true freshman.

"He could be very valuable on the mound," Holbrook said. "I feel a lot more comfortable about him throwing strikes. His velocity is up and he's throwing the ball well. I just have to be careful to make sure I don't take away what he can give us offensively. I don't want to put too much on him. But he is big and strong and physical. He is a different player than he was a year ago. I think he is going to have a very good year."

In addition to Crowe, 6-foot-4 freshman RHP Cody Morris, rated the top high school prospect in Maryland for last June's MLB Draft and the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year in his home state, is expected to be sidelined for the season.

"They are both front line guys," Holbrook said. "We recruited them both to be weekend guys. We think Will is one of the best college pitchers in the country and we think Cody has the talent and ability to be in that same conversation. But they will both probably be out for the entire year. I'm not going to rush them back. It's my job to protect them and make sure we put them back out there when they're healthy and completely ready to go."

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In summary: Crowe and Morris would start this year, but they are both out with injuries. Schmidt is the likely Friday Night starter. Widener has a shot at a weekend starting spot, several other guys are vying for a spot as well. He expects our pitching to be better this year than last year. The kid from Oklahoma, Webb, is a stud, he'll have a shot at the Sunday starter role, IMO. He's built like Jordan Montgomery.