Unranked Gamecocks playing the unfamiliar underdog card

[gtxvideo vid=’ChI1Sy6F’ thumb=’http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/ChI1Sy6F.jpg’ vtitle=’Unranked Gamecocks playing the unfamiliar underdog card’]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — For just the third time in the last 10 seasons, Gamecock baseball isn’t ranked in the top 25 of Baseball America’s poll.

There are certainly reasons.

Carolina begins its first year under new head coach Mark Kingston, who replaced Chad Holbrook this summer after Holbrook’s resignation. (Holbrook is now at College of Charleston. The Gamecocks and Cougars face off on May 5 at Spirit Communications Park.)

Aside from a change of leadership, the Gamecocks will face an enormous task, replacing three pitchers from an outstanding rotation.

Starters Clarke Schmidt and Wil Crowe are gone, as is closer Tyler Johnson (all drafted in last year’s MLB Draft).

“(Pundits) think we can be a good team but they’re not quite sure we’re elite yet, and our job as coaches and players is to get elite as quickly as we can,” said Kingston Thursday. “It’s a good place to be.”

Junior starter Adam Hill becomes Carolina’s newest Friday night starter, but behind him is where the questions start.

“You’re looking at Cody Morris, the two freshmen Carmen Mlodzinski and Logan Chapman,” Kingston said. “Eddy Demurias (a transfer) could be considered, Ridge Chapman could be considered. So that’s the main group of guys that will be looked at as starters at this point.”

The Gamecocks have to answer questions beyond the mound as well.

Kingston says as many as 13 players could have the potential to start, but which positions are still to be determined.

Noah Campbell, Justin Row, LT Tolbert and Madison Stokes will compete for shortstop and second base. Sophomore Carlos Cortes (who led the SEC in home runs last season), TJ Hopkins, Jacob Olson, Danny Blair, and freshman Kyle Jacobsen are all candidates to start in the outfield.

The Gamecocks open the season February 16 against VMI at Founders Park.