Even though sophomore T.J. Hopkins batted .322 with 26 runs batted in while starting 31 games as a freshman in 2016, he believed he had a laundry list of things to improve on when fall practice started five months ago.
Friday, the endless hours of hard work paid off.
Batting leadoff, Hopkins went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs in South Carolina’s Opening Day 7-1 victory over UNC Greensboro in front of a sellout crowd at Founders Park.
“I was seeing it well today,” Hopkins told reporters after the game. “The first pitcher was throwing a lot of off-speed pitches so I was just looking to go the other way and I had some balls fall for me.”
Hopkins, one of the fastest players on the team and yet possesses enough power to hit the ball out of the park, ignited the Gamecock offense with a leadoff double in the bottom of the first, reached on an infield single in the third and lined a two-run double to right-center in the bottom of the fourth, making the Summerville native 3-for-3 at the plate before the game had arrived at the midway point.
When researching candidates for USC’s Most Improved Player in 2017, Hopkins should top any list.
“T.J. is a special talent,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said after Friday’s win. “He’s a great athlete and great kid that works extremely hard at the game. He was terrific. He set the tone for the whole game with his first swing and then he stretched a hit into a double.
“He’s an electric player. There are not many more players more talented than T.J. Hopkins as far as how he runs, his swing and what he can when he’s on the bases. And he has some power. He’s a special player. We saw some of his athleticism today.”
The Hopkins that wore the Gamecock uniform Friday in the season opener is miles ahead of where he was a year ago at this same time.
“He’s a much more polished player this year than he was last year,” Holbrook said. “You will see a new T.J. Hopkins. He has incredible talent and he’s a crazy good athlete. But he is learning to play the game. Last year, he was trying to figure that part out. He is ready to have a big year for us.”
What was on Hopkins’ “To-Do’ List coming into his sophomore season? Reducing his strikeouts (37 in 121 AB in 2016), raising his on-base percentage from the .388 figure he posted in 2016, stealing more bases (8 in
2016) and cranking out more extra base hits (5 doubles + 1 triple among 39 hits last season).
He must accomplish all those things if he wants to continue as USC’s leadoff hitter on a long-term basis.
“I’ve figured out my swing a little bit more and I’m a lot more confident this year,” Hopkins said. “I have to cut my strikeouts down, getting on base, stealing bases and hitting doubles. I definitely have to find ways to get on base.
“Coach Holbrook is letting me go up there to the plate and work my approach. If there is a (good) first pitch of the game, I’m able to swing at it if I like it. That makes me feel a lot more comfortable at the plate. I just go up there and see ball, hit ball.”
Hopkins says he wants to make better contact on fastballs early in counts and go to the opposite field on pitches painting the outside portion of the plate.
Spraying pitches to the opposite field is an important skill Hopkins has relentlessly worked on since arriving at USC in the Fall of 2015. Both of his doubles on Friday went to right field.
“In high school I was mainly a pull hitter,” Hopkins said. “When I first got here, that’s why I struggled. I’m going the other way now. I feel a lot more comfortable in the batter’s box now.”
Hopkins’ three hits Friday extended his hitting streak to eight games dating back to last season.
NOTES:
-- Because of USC’s array of talent, Holbrook said he could utilize several different lineup combinations in the early stages of the season. “We had some good players that sat on the bench today,” Holbrook said. “They deserve a chance to play. I’m going to play some guys early in the year to see if we can get into a rhythm and see who can do what. They are all going to have to be ready to play.”
-- Four Gamecock hitters had two or more hits on Friday as part of USC’s 11-hit attack: Hopkins (3), Danny Blair (3), Jacob Olson (2) and Alex Destino (2). Blair tied a career high with his three hits. He also had three hits. Olson debuted for the Gamecocks.
-- Three Gamecocks - Olson, Carlos Cortes and Riley Hogan - made their Carolina debut in the season opener
-- Game 2 of the South Carolina-UNCG series is Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network Plus and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network, including flagship station 107.5 FM The Game in Columbia.
-- A moment of silence was held before the game as the Gamecocks honored longtime fan Bill "Oot Oot" Golding. An "Oot Oot" flag hung from one of the flag poles near center field in honor of Mr. Golding and "Oot Oot" helmets were given away to fans attending the game.
