One of South Carolina baseball’s top pitchers entering transfer portal

One of South Carolina baseball’s top pitchers is leaving the program.

Left-handed pitcher Julian Bosnic is entering the transfer portal, a school spokesperson confirmed Tuesday night. Gamecock Central was the first to report the news.

Bosnic missed the 2022 season after suffering a flexor strain in his elbow just before the season. The redshirt junior was expected to be one of the Gamecocks’ top pitchers this season.

In April, USC coach Mark Kingston said that Bosnic will have a “minor” surgery on his elbow that will sideline him for three to four months. Bosnic was one of the team’s top pitchers a year ago, posting a 2.84 ERA and striking out 78 batters in 50.2 innings — mostly out of the bullpen.

Drafted in the 16th round by the San Francisco Giants in the 2021 MLB Draft, Bosnic opted to return to school this season. As a sophomore, Bosnic made 22 appearances, including four starts and was 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA, four saves and 78 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.

There is a chance Bosnic could be drafted and decide to begin his professional career instead of finding a new college. The Major League Baseball draft is set for July 17-19.

Bosnic is the 10th South Carolina player to enter the transfer portal. The Gamecocks have added seven transfers, and Kingston said Tuesday the team might not be done yet.

The Gamecocks are coming off a 27-28 season and missed the 2022 NCAA tournament. It was USC’s first losing season since 1996.

Kingston addressed the media for the first time since the season ended on Tuesday and promised a better future ahead beginning with next season.

“It’s gonna be a lot better than what this season was,” Kingston said. “It’s going to be a lot better than what this past season was.

“No. 1, we can’t help but be a lot more healthy than we were this year. We’re going to have a tremendous amount of good players coming back ... and we can’t talk specifically about how the transfer portal has been to us, but it’s been very, very good to us over the last month.”