Weekend preview: more on injuries, LT Tolbert plus John Gilreath

What you need to know heading into this weekend's series with Charleston Southern:

When:

Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

Probable pitching matchups (South Carolina listed first):

Friday

RHP, Adam Hill (0-1, 15.75 ERA) vs. RHP, Nik Constantakos (1-0, 3.60 ERA)

Saturday

RHP, Cody Morris (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Stoudemire (0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Sunday

RHP, Ridge Chapman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Weekley (0-1, 1.50 ERA)

All three games will be streamed on SEC Network Plus on WatchESPN.

Tolbert trending up

So far, LT Tolbert has been hustling around the bases in five games. Not just offensively, but defensively, too.

He’s played three different infield positions and is currently second on the team hitting .438.

Also see: Insider scouting report on Mississippi State

“That’s exactly what we envision with him, is a guy that helps us in different areas, wherever we need him and he gives you quality, professional at-bats,” head coach Mark Kingston said. “So I’m very pleased with where he is right now.”

He started the season at first base and played second over the course of opening weekend. When Madison Stokes went down with a tweaked hamstring, Tolbert shifted to shortstop and has played there the last two games.

“I knew coming into the season I was going to get moved around,” Tolbert said. “I didn’t want it to be because of Stokes getting hurt, and he’ll be back soon. I knew coming into this year my role was going to be a guy that’s versatile, can be moved around. I just try to do the best I can at each spot.”

Curious case of John Gilreath

It’s hard to play as a freshman in the SEC, and harder if you start in January as opposed to August like the rest of the team. But that’s what lefty John Gilreath is doing.

The freshman has eight shutout innings already this season, including four scoreless in his first college start Tuesday and another four shutout innings on Opening Day.

“He walks around like he’s the man, which he should. That’s how every pitcher in my mind should walk around,” outfielder TJ Hopkins said. “For him to be only 17 and come in Friday night and now, he just pounds the zone and he works really hard. He’s a good pitcher.”

Also see: Spring primer on the SAM and Buck linebacker spots

Now comes the hard question of what his role is moving forward. Kingston hasn’t ruled out starting him in a weekend series at some point this year, but there’s an argument to be made for him to be a bullpen specialist or midweek starter as well.

“There’s no question he can give you a quality start on a Tuesday,” Kingston said. “There’s nothing to say he couldn’t be moved into the weekend at some point. But there’s nothing to say he might be a key back of the bullpen guy to compliment Eddy.”

Injury news

Madison Stokes is still sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in the fourth inning of Sunday’s win over VMI.

The staff is taking that slow and making sure he’s fully healthy before putting him back in the lineup, especially this early in the season.

“It’s still day-to-day. We’re not going to rush him and have him miss a month later in the season,” Kingston said. “We’re going to be cautiously optimistic that he’s getting closer, but we’re going to be cautious in putting him out there before he’s ready.”

Also see: 2019 four-star QB interested in South Carolina

Justin Row also had a bit of a hamstring problem in Wednesday’s game but said he was fine afterwards. Him being taken out, Kingston said was more precautionary than anything else.

Other than that, the rest of South Carolina’s team other than Ian Jenkins, who’s still recovering from Tommy John surgery, should be available. That includes Carmen Mlodzinski, who missed the first five games rehabbing from a knee injury.

“My guess is that Carmen will be available this weekend,” Kingston said. “Once again, don’t want to put any players in harms way as it relates to an injury. So we’re overly cautious with him and his knee, but we anticipate him being available this weekend.”

ALSO: more episodes | GC Radio app: App Store - Google Play |

Subscribe to GCR Podcast: RSS feed - iTunes - PlayerFM - SoundCloud- Stitcher -iHeartRadio - Spreaker - YouTube