As the summer heat settles across the baseball circuit, South Carolina Gamecocks prospects are turning heads in a variety of collegiate summer leagues, from the Cape Cod Baseball League to the Northwoods and Alaska circuits. Their performances are being closely watched as indicators for the upcoming fall season.
Right‑hander Ryan Brennecke, a recent Wake Forest transfer, delivered a standout outing on July 18, tossing five innings of one‑run baseball while striking out nine and walking two. The outing marked a clear improvement after a rocky start to his professional debut.
At the plate, Andrew Costello capped the regular season as the Cape Cod League’s batting champion, posting a .361 average with four homers and 19 RBIs in just 97 at‑bats. His consistency at the plate has placed him among the league’s most feared hitters.
Luke Costello, also a Costello sibling, endured a quieter summer, going homerless in 34 games while batting .230 with 23 RBIs, 10 doubles and a .230 average, primarily patrolling the outfield.
Brandon Cromer has struggled to find his rhythm, managing just one home run and four RBIs in 20 at‑bats while posting a 7.71 ERA on the mound, a combination that has left coaches seeking adjustments.
Brice Estep’s summer numbers read .137 with a single homer and five RBIs in 51 at‑bats, but his defensive work behind the plate has been more promising, posting a 37% throw‑out rate that ranks favorably among catchers.
Andrew Koshy contributed out of the bullpen, going 1‑1 with a 2.89 ERA across seven appearances, striking out ten while walking four in 9.1 innings of relief work.
Miles Keogh emerged as one of the most productive hitters, finishing the summer at .367 with 22 hits, seven RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 60 at‑bats, while also seeing time at second base.
Garrett Michel, despite a modest .196 average and six RBIs, started 14 games at first base and maintained a .990 fielding percentage, showing steady glove work.
Connor Shouse proved to be a dual‑threat, hitting .372 with nine RBIs and a .440 on‑base percentage, while also pitching a single inning that allowed one run.
JD Stein earned a spot on the USA Collegiate National Team, appearing in eight games and going .240 with six hits and two RBIs. He also helped the squad secure a walk‑off home run in a 10‑0 victory over Korea, though the team ultimately fell to Japan in the gold‑medal game in Taiwan.
Jordan Stephens was perhaps the most dominant pitcher of the bunch, posting a 1.06 ERA over six appearances, fanning 27 batters in 17 innings and delivering three scoreless frames in his latest start on July 25.
National Team Highlights and Upcoming Battles
The Bourne Braves are set to open the Cape Cod Division Semifinals best‑of‑three series on August 2 against the Falmouth Commodores, a matchup that could further showcase the Gamecocks’ talent on a national stage.