James Darnell

Adding to the list of sluggers on South Carolina's roster is junior James Darnell. The hard hitting third baseman exhibits huge raw power from the right side of the plate and has a strong throwing arm. With Justin Smoak at first and Darnell at third, USC looks to have one of the strongest corner infield tandems in the country.

Making 51 appearances his freshman year with 29 starts, Darnell hit only .239 with 3 home runs. He appeared all over for the Gamecocks, including second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield. That summer he got the opportunity to play for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League, and hit .246 with 2 home runs.

Learning from his freshman experience and finally getting a shot to start full time, Darnell exploded his sophomore season. He led the team with a .331 average and hit 19 HR with 63 RBI. His strong forearms generated quick bat speed, driving the ball to all fields. He walked 51 times while striking out only 35, and earned second team All-SEC honors.

Returning to play for Hyannis in '07, Darnell impressed scouts all summer. Although his batting average rose only a few points from the previous season to .250, he slugged 8 home runs with wood. He also stroked an an opposite field bomb in Wareham while playing in the All Star Game. Baseball America ranked him the 15th pro prospect coming out of the Cape.


While Darnell may not hit for a high average in pro ball, his lethal hacks at the plate make him one of the top third baseman in the country and a potential first round pick this June.

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