Reports: South Carolina Hiring Indiana Pitching Coach Justin Parker
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana pitching coach Justin Parker is leaving Bloomington for the same job at South Carolina, according to reports.
Parker came to Indiana three years ago when Jeff Mercer was hired. The two of them played baseball together and have coached together for several years, both and Indiana and several stops previously.
Parker's Indiana pitching staff posted a 3.17 earned run average this season, good enough to rank No. 3 in the country behind only Texas, a College World Series team, and Fairfield. They were No. 2 in the country in hits allowed (6.69) per nine innings, behind only Vanderbilt, which reached the CWS final before losing to Mississippi State.
Starters Tommy Sommer, McCade Brown and Gabe Bierman were all exceptional all season long, and all three were drafted last week and have signed their professional contracts already.
Indiana's bullpen had several great arms as well, most notably closer Matt Litwicki, who was also drafted. Indiana had four relievers with ERAs at 2.73 or lower.
South Carolina has yet to officially announce the hire.
Related stories on Indiana baseball
- TOMMY SOMMER TO WHITE SOX: Lefty pitcher Tommy Sommer wasn't expected to be selected on Day 2 of the MLB Draft, but the Chicago White Sox had a better plan, and it all worked out in the 10th round. Gabe Bierman and Matt Litwicki were also drafted. CLICK HERECOLE BARR, GRANT RICHARDSON DRAFTED: Indiana third baseman Cole Barr and Grant Richardson were both drafted on the final day of the 2021 MLB Draft. CLICK HERE
- McCADE BROWN PICKED IN THIRD ROUND (July 12): With the 79th overall pick in the third round, Indiana starter McCade Brown was picked by the Colorado Rockies, and he called it ''a dream come true.'' CLICK HERE
- TOMMY SOMMER PROFILE (May 6): Despite his lofty numbers, Tommy Sommer knows he can be better, especially when he gets his control tightened up. CLICK HERE
- MATT LITWICKI PROFILE (April 23): Matt Litwicki is a commanding presence when he's standing on the mound. Mix in those steely eyes and that intense bulldog mentality, and Indiana's closer has hitters shaking in their cleats because he's got a killer fastball that's pushing 100 mph on many days. CLICK HERE
- GABE BIERMAN PROFILE (April 22): Gabe Bierman has turned into a dominating performer in Indiana's rotation, and he's been relishing his role as a Sunday starter, getting one huge win after after another the Hoosiers. CLICK HERE