USC Baseball Targets Transfer Star Will Craddock for 2027 Push
The USC Trojans baseball program enjoyed its most successful campaign in recent memory, finishing the 2026 season with a 48‑18 record under head coach Andy Stankiewicz. The team’s surge carried them to the Chapel Hill Super Regional, where they fell just one game short of the College World Series. In the Super Regional, the Trojans dropped a 4‑3 decision to the North Carolina Tar Heels, a loss that underscored how close the squad came to a national breakthrough. Despite the narrow defeat, the performance cemented the program’s reputation as a rising force in collegiate baseball. Central to the Trojans’ offseason agenda is the pursuit of South Carolina Gamecocks infielder Will Craddock, a highly touted transfer portal prospect. Craddock posted a .260 batting average and hit 10 home runs during the 2026 campaign, traits that have attracted considerable attention from USC’s recruiting staff. Coach Stankiewicz hopes the addition of Craddock will complement the return of junior infielder Kevin Takeuchi and senior outfielder Jack Basseer, both of whom contributed significantly last season. Takeuchi finished with a .320 average, 77 hits, 65 runs and 10 homers, while Basseer provides veteran depth in the outfield. On the mound, sophomore right‑hander Grant Govel is slated to anchor the rotation. Govel posted a 2.87 ERA and struck out 99 batters while compiling a 10‑3 record in 2026, numbers that position him as a frontline ace for the 2027 rotation. The Trojans’ blend of experienced returners and targeted transfers creates a compelling narrative as they aim to translate a strong regular season into a College World Series appearance. With a solid recruiting pipeline and a pitching staff that proved its mettle last year, USC is positioning itself as a contender in the national landscape.
