During the 2025 season, the South Carolina baseball team had one of their most disappointing seasons in recent history. After his first season back in college baseball following a three-year retirement, head coach Paul Mainieri led the team to a 28-29 (6-24 SEC) record.
While Mainieri brought in 27 new players to the roster, including twelve new pitchers, many key figures from last season’s pitching rotation returned to continue making an impact on the mound.
Mainieri praised the development and talent of the 2026 pitching staff.
“The biggest reason for my optimism going into the year is because of our pitching staff,” Mainieri said. "We’ve got some really good arms, and I think Terry (Rooney) is doing a tremendous job developing them.”
Potential starting returners
One of the six returning pitchers from last season includes junior left-handed pitcher Jake McCoy. McCoy was the most consistent starter on the mound for the Gamecocks with 14 starts and 77 strikeouts in 2025.
Over the summer, McCoy made three starts in the Cape Cod League with the Harwich Mariners and dominated with 25 strikeouts to just three walks. McCoy earned Cape Cod Baseball League Athlete of the Week honors during his short stint in the Cape and has essentially locked himself in as a weekend starter for South Carolina.
“I feel very good about the way that Jake has improved, and now this being his junior year, I feel like he’s added a changeup to his repertoire,” Mainieri said on the "Southeastern 16" podcast. “He’s always had a really good fastball and slider, but now he’s got something that he can throw when he’s behind in the count, and I think it’s going to make him a more complete pitcher.”
After missing his true freshman season with injury, redshirt freshman Riley Goodman made his first outing as a Gamecock in November during a scrimmage against the College of Charleston. Goodman had a dominant fall and has emerged as another potential weekend starter for the Gamecocks.
Goodman talked about how Mainieri’s mention of him competing for a weekend starting role made him feel.
“It makes me feel great that he’s confident in me,” Goodman said. “But, you know, no matter where he puts me, I’m going to go out there and do my thing.”
Junior right-hander Brandon Stone will return for his second year with the Gamecocks after transferring from Johnson County Community College last season. With the inconsistency on the mound for the staff last season, Stone made appearances both as a starter and from the bullpen, which could be the case in 2026 as well.
In addition to his dominant sinker, Stone has developed a cutter that could help him attack left-handed hitters better, which was something he struggled with last season. Stone had 46 strikeouts in 2025 and most notably pitched a complete game against then-ranked No. 11 Ole Miss, which would be the Gamecocks' only SEC series win of the season.
Returning arms in the bullpen
Sophomore reliever Zach Russell also returns to South Carolina after making 19 appearances from the bullpen last season.
Russell had 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched. While there was some inconsistency during conference play last season, his fall outings have been solid, and he has solidified himself as another potential strong reliever that the Gamecocks lacked last season.
Following his sophomore season, in which he made a team-high 25 bullpen appearances, junior right-handed pitcher Parker Marlatt looks to continue his impact for the 2026 season. Marlatt had a 4.18 ERA with two saves in 2025 and had 30 strikeouts in 28 innings as a sophomore.
Sophomore right-hander Cooper Parks rounds out the returning pitching class in 2026 after seven appearances last season as a freshman. Parks struggled during his outings and boasted a 14.14 ERA through seven total innings but has continued to develop and is looking to become a contributor this season.
“Parks in particular, his fastball is a real heavy fastball with a lot of movement,” Mainieri said. “I don’t know, I just got a sneaking suspicion that that kid is on the verge of doing something really outstanding.”
What's next?
South Carolina opens up the 2026 season against Northern Kentucky on Friday, Feb. 13. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m., with a streaming service yet to be announced.