Cole Messina helping everywhere as South Carolina battles injuries
Cole Messina undoubtedly tried a handful of positions on the diamond before settling on catcher and committing to South Carolina.
After he did, Messina turned himself into one of the better catching prospects in the 2021 class, enrolling at South Carolina and becoming the day-one starter there as a sophomore.
But, with injuries piling up, Messina’s been asked to play a little out of position and he’s embracing it until guys get fully healthy.
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“I think it’s just do whatever the team needs, honestly. I worry about my self goals when it comes to the offseason,” Messina told GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark during the Garnet Trust Hour Tuesday.
“There’s not a lot of time to change anything right now. You just have to do whatever the team needs and do it to the best of your ability.”
With Braylen Wimmer going down last week with a soft-tissue injury, it forced third baseman Michael Braswell to short and moved Messina to third.
It’s a unique spot for him, but he’s handled it well and will be tested immensely this weekend against a bunt-happy Kentucky team.
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But regardless of that, Messina’s happy to be helping the team as much as he has been. In SEC play he’s hitting .269/.394/.577 with six homers and 21 RBI.
Over his last 10 games (39 at-bats) he’s slashing .333/.435/.821 with five homers and 14 runs driven in as well.
“For my money, Cole Messina’s the most improved player in the country. It’s from good, old-fashioned hard work,” Mark Kingston said before the Auburn series. “He had everything you’re looking for in a recruit. Last year, he came in and it didn’t click. He was battling injuries and didn’t come together quite yet. To his credit, he didn’t pout or whine. He just went to work.”
His bat has been a vital piece to a resurgent South Carolina offense that needs his bat more than ever right now with guys out.
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“I think we have one of the best catchers in the league. I think we have one of the best catchers in the country and I’m promoting him to the team USA people he should be in very strong consideration for their team,” Kingston said.
“I’m so proud of him. He bleeds garnet and black. He’s a competitor. He’s a gamer and will do anything this team needs. Every time we have an injury he says, ‘Coach, if you need me to go play there I’lll play there for the team.”
The Gamecocks are hitting a bit of an adversity skid right now while three of their everyday infielders are out and going up to play a tough Kentucky team this weekend.
South Carolina might be thin, but Messina thinks the Gamecocks will be all right as they try to fight to keep one of those top eight seeds.
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“I think we might be banged up but the people we put on the field give us a chance to win,” Messina told Clark. “I don’t think there’s a hole in our lineup, even with four or five guys out of the lineup. It is what it is. We just have to deal with it and play our game and go have fun.”
Series details
Who: No. 3 South Carolina (36-8, 14-6 SEC) at Kentucky (30-12, 11-10 SEC)
When: Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7
Where: Kentucky Proud Park (Capacity: 5,000)
Game times: Friday, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
How to watch: Friday and Saturday, SEC Network Plus; Sunday, SEC Network
How to listen: 107.5 FM and the Gamecock Radio Network
Probable pitching
Friday: RHP Will Sanders (4-2, 5.61 ERA) vs. RHP Travis Smith (3-1, 4.02 ERA
Saturday: RHP Jack Mahoney (4-2, 3.91 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Bosma (4-3, 4.82 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Matthew Becker (4-0, 4.19 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Lee (3-2, 3.66 ERA)
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