The 20th season of Blowfish Baseball is almost here. 

Before the festivities begin, the team revealed its new anniversary jerseys and announced a few of its players that will be a part of the upcoming roster. The announcements were made in a room full of fans and community partners during the team’s community luncheon.

The 20th-anniversary jerseys are crimson red with the Blowfish wordmark arched across the front in dark navy with a white outline. The uniforms will also be on display during every Blowfish home game this season, and fans can participate in an auction for them throughout the season until the team’s final home game. 

The team also announced a couple of players who will suit up for the Blowfish this season. 

12 of the players announced are returning athletes who spent time with the organization over the past two seasons. The Blowfish made the Coastal Plains League championship in each of the past two seasons and won the title in 2023. Consistency in the roster year to year will help the team build on that success. 

Eight of the 12 returners have Lexington County roots, having attended one of the area’s 15 high schools. 

Batesburg-Leesville graduate and current USC Aiken baseball player Cade Bouknight will be back after being one of the Blowfish’s leading pitchers in 2024. 

River Bluff alum and current Lander player Zach Cowart is another returning player who had a big 2024 season with the Blowfish. Cowart was one of the most consistent batters for the Blowfish, leading the team in hits and batting average. 

Other returning players with Lexington County ties include Chapin’s Lucas Highberger, Brookland-Cayce’s Ty Marshall, Dutch Fork’s Blake Martin, Brookland-Cayce’s Parker Mergo, River Bluff’s Walker Mitchell and River Bluff’s Thomas Powell. 

Spring Valley’s Brent Gibbs, A.C. Flora’s Zander Buchan, Blythewood’s Kevin Steelman and Oceanside’s Scott Templeton round out the returning players. 

In addition to the 12 returning Blowfish players, the team announced a few new additions as well. Two of the new players will come from right down the road at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. 

Former River Bluff standout and state champion Beau Hollins will gear up for the Blowfish following his freshman year at USC. His gamecock teammate Tyler June from Laurence Manning will also play his first season in a Blowfish uniform. 

Overall, the Blowfish signed 10 players from in-state division I programs. Three players are coming from the College of Charleston, two come from Clemson, two from South Carolina, two from The Citadel and one comes from Coastal Carolina.

These players will begin their Blowfish careers after the upcoming college baseball season. The Blowfish begin their season May 29 on the road against Florence. 

The home opener is the following day against Macon and will feature a fireworks show after the game. There are four fireworks nights on the schedule, including the annual July 4 Blowfish vs. Glowfish exhibition. 

Before the season starts, the organization will host and participate in a few community events, including the 11th annual Lexington County Chili Cookoff on Feb. 16 and the 10th annual Shamrock Parade on March 9. Additional information on those events can be found on the Blowfish website.