South Carolina loses its top two catchers next season with the graduation of fifth-year seniors Kyle Enders and Brady Thomas. The other three catchers listed on the roster haven’t registered a single inning. The Gamecocks have a hole to fill and have done so earning the signature of Palm Beach State JC catcher Dante Rosenberg.
Junior
Robert Beary, sophomore
Richard Royal and freshman
Brison Celek are the only three catchers on the roster scheduled to return next season while Carolina has also signed incoming freshmen
Greg Brodzinski and utility player
Patrick Harrington.
Between the five, only Royal has Division I experience behind home plate and that was in minimal action as a freshman in 2008. It was clear that the USC coaching staff wanted to bring a player with some experience.
“I talked to a few schools a little bit in the fall but didn’t find any place I liked in the early signing period,” Rosenberg said. “South Carolina gave me a call in January. They had a commitment from our shortstop and they have seen me play. They’ve been talking to me about needing a catcher. Last week, they called and offered.”
The shortstop Rosenberg referred to is signee
Peter Mooney, a player that associate head coach
Chad Holbrook called “as talented a middle infielder as there is.”
Rosenberg has yet to see South Carolina in person and relied mainly on Mooney as a source of information.
“I haven’t been to South Carolina yet but I’m coming pretty soon hopefully,” Rosenberg said. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it. He’s been showing me a bunch of stuff online. He’s said it’s a great school and it’s going to be a great time.”
The five-foot-eleven, 185-pounder sports a pop-time consistently in the 1.9 second range. He describes himself as an “all-around defensive” player that can block, receive, and throw. Rosenberg’s defensive prowess is what drew Holbrook to the former Coral Springs Christian Academy standout.
“I’m a defensive catcher,” Rosenberg said. “I want to come in and help defensively and offensively also. I want to be strong up the middle and have a solid defense out there.”
At the plate, the right-hander is hitting .271 this season with five doubles, 15 runs scored, and 17 runs batted in.
“I’m more of a gap-to-gap guy,” Rosenberg said. “Not too much power. I get it done in the in the situations. I can hit and run, bunt, whatever. I’m a gap-to-gap guy.”
South Carolina already has a couple of strong-hitting catchers on the roster. Rosenberg is slated to provide the defense. Whatever he can do to help the team achieve its goals though.
“I am ready to come play for South Carolina,” Rosenberg said. “It will be awesome being up there with Peter. We’re coming up there to help the Gamecocks win a championship.”
Rosenberg will enroll at South Carolina this fall seeking a degree in either Sports Management or Business. He will have two years to play two.
Insider Notes
