Look back, look ahead: 'Great locker room' boosts Gamecocks
In many ways, freshman outfielder T.J. Hopkins represents the difference between last year’s underachieving South Carolina team that failed to make the NCAA Tournament and this year’s squad, which currently sits atop the SEC standings in the wake of this past weekend’s three-game sweep over Missouri.
Rated the No. 2 prep outfielder in the Palmetto State, Hopkins was a highly-touted 2015-16 prospect from Summerville High School when he chose to sign with the Gamecocks knowing there was a chance he would not be a full-time starter in 2016.
Hopkins has started 19 of USC’s 41 games – less than half – and made 26 appearances overall. He has amassed impressive offensive numbers with a .352 batting average (25-71), one HR, 19 RBI and .452 on-base percentage. He also has six stolen bases, second most on the Gamecocks behind Dom Thompson-Williams (15).
Last week, Hopkins went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases in the 14-4 win over Furman at Fluor Field in Greenville. Four days later, the speedy Hopkins was 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in Sunday’s 9-2 victory over Missouri.
Many young players in Hopkins’ position would have pouted on the bench over the lack of playing time. Yet, Hopkins has adopted a different approach, fully embracing a team-first temperament that perhaps was lacking a year ago among the Gamecock players.
“When T.J. is not playing, he is the biggest cheerleader we have in the dugout,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said Sunday after USC finalized the sweep over Missouri. “His attitude is great. Some of his teammates could probably learn from him, not that we have anybody that is sour. But we have guys that want to play and some can’t get in there. T.J. just wants to win. I’m sure it’s difficult for him, but he understands. He knows the situation we’re in. He gets it.”
In his two games last week, Hopkins was 8-for-10 at the plate with five RBI and five runs scored as he positioned himself for a full-time starting role next season.
“The ball flies off his bat. I said in the fall I thought (Hopkins) would be a very high draft pick in a couple of years (2018 MLB Draft),” Holbrook said. “People are seeing it now. He can run, he can play centerfield, he can run the bases, he can steal bases, he can hit a home run. He is very talented and he is just learning how to play. He has come a long way from September.”
The unique togetherness of this year’s Gamecocks team was on full display Saturday night following the Gem 2 victory over Missouri when about half the team showed up in the media room for Jonah Bride’s first media session of the 2016 season.
“Jonah is a great kid and he has all the respect of his teammates,” Holbrook said. “He works hard, he goes about his business, he doesn’t get too high or too low, he plays a great third base. He has been nearly flawless at third base. You need guys like Jonah on your team and in your locker room.”
Holbrook said the Gamecock locker room has been the haven where winning begins in 2016.
"Special seasons and championship seasons are made in the locker room," Holbrook said. "They happen in there, not in my office or the dugout. They control that. That has been my message since September. Our locker room is a great locker room this year."
NOTES:
-- After enjoying one of the best weekends in recent memory, Gamecock outfielder Gene Cone was honored Monday as the SEC Player of the Week and the National Player of the Week from Collegiate Baseball. Cone went 10-for-12 (.833) at the plate this past weekend during the sweep of Missouri with six RBI and seven runs scored. He extended his hitting streak to a school record 27 games on Sunday.
-- For the season, Cone is batting .377 (49-for-130) with two homers, two triples, nine doubles, 18 RBI and 37 runs scored. He has 24 walks to 14 strikeouts, a .457 on-base percentage and a .523 slugging mark. Cone ranks fourth in the SEC in on-base percentage, fifth in batting average and tied for 10th in runs scored.
-- After recording a victory on Saturday, RHP Braden Webb is the only SEC pitcher with five wins in league contests. Webb’s 55 strikeouts in six SEC games are the most by any pitcher in the conference. For the season, Webb is 8-2 with a 3.28 ERA and has allowed 26 runs on 40 hits in 57.2 innings. He has 76 strikeouts to 33 walks. Opponents are hitting a lowly .193 against him.
-- If Cone had not been the obvious nominee for SEC Player of the Week, Alex Destino would have been the perfect choice. Destino hit .462 (6-for-13) in the Missouri series with six RBI. For the season, Destino is hitting .354 (51-for-144) with four homers, 10 doubles and 38 RBI (one less than team leader John Jones).
-- Sophomore third baseman Jonah Bride would have been another solid nominee for POTY. Bride hit .500 (6-for-12) in the Missouri series, raising his season batting average to .281 (41-for-146) with six doubles, 18 RBI, 31 runs scored and 15 hit by pitches. Bride has also shined defensively, making just one error in 41 starts at third base and compiling a .987 fielding percentage at the hot corner.
-- Friday night starter Clarke Schmidt leads the SEC in innings pitched (70.2) and is one of four conference pitchers with eight wins on the year, including Webb. Schmidt also leads the SEC in strikeouts (85) and is fourth in the SEC in earned run average (2.04).
-- Closer Josh Reagan leads the SEC in saves (11) and is 1-1 with a 0.82 ERA in 20 relief appearances encompassing 33.0 IP. Reagan has allowed just three runs on 16 hits with 10 walks and 28 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .144 against him.
-- Hard-throwing RHP Tyler Johnson is proving to be a reliable setup man for Reagan. After making seven appearances last season (just one after April 14, 2015), Johnson is enjoying a breakout campaign in 2016 and has caught the eye of MLB scouts with his size (6-2, 200 pounds) and mid-90s fastball. Johnson is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 17 relief appearances. He has 33 strikeouts to four walks in 28.0 innings.
-- Reliever Reed Scott picked up two victories last week. For the season, Scott is 3-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 19 relief appearances totaling 30.0 innings pitched.
-- Defensively, the Gamecocks have committed just 30 errors (second fewest in SEC) in 41 games for an impressive team fielding percentage of .980. Second baseman DC Arendas (2 errors), shortstop Marcus Mooney (7) and Bride (1) have combined for just 10 errors this season.
-- Quick starts have boosted the Gamecocks this season. USC has outscored opponents, 66-26, in the first two innings, including 43-13 in the first inning. The Gamecocks are 25-2 on the year when scoring first and 16-2 when scoring in the first inning. Carolina is 24-1 when out-hitting the opponent and 16-2 when hitting at least one home run.
-- USC is 31-0 when leading after the sixth inning and 31-0 when leading after the seventh inning. Largely due to Reagan’s sensational season, USC is also 33-0 when leading after the eighth inning.
-- The Gamecocks are ranked in the Top 10 of the official NCAA RPI and every major national poll:
Official NCAA RPI - No. 3
Collegiate Baseball – No. 2
USA Today Coaches – No. 5
Baseball America – No. 6
D1 Baseball – No. 7
Perfect Game USA – No. 8
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
April 20 at Furman, W 14-4
April 22 vs. Missouri, W 8-5
April 23 vs. Missouri, W 5-1
April 24 vs. Missouri, W 9-2
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Friday vs. Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Saturday vs. Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
Sunday vs. Florida, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
SEC EAST STANDINGS (As of April 25)
South Carolina 14-4
Florida 13-5
Kentucky 10-8
Vanderbilt 10-8
Georgia 7-11
Tennessee 6-12
Missouri 4-14
