Columbia, S.C. – Brian Buscher, a 2003 All-American at South Carolina and former major leaguer with the Minnesota Twins, has returned to Columbia and will serve as an undergraduate assistant coach for the 2011 season on the South Carolina baseball team. Buscher played on consecutive College World Series teams in 2002 and 2003 before beginning a seven-year stint in professional baseball highlighted by three years in Major League Baseball with the Twins. He will serve as the bench coach and work with the corner infielders.
"We are very happy to have Brian as a part of our coaching staff," said head coach Ray Tanner. "He had a tremendous career here and sustained that success in professional baseball. He will be a great influence for our student-athletes."
Buscher came to Carolina after two seasons at Central Florida CC. Buscher never missed a game in two seasons at Carolina starting 140 of 142 games played at third base. He was a staple in the lineup as a junior on the 2002 SEC championship team that reached the national championship game at the College World Series and he followed that up with an even more successful year in 2003 that saw him earn All-America honors as the Gamecocks made a second straight trip to the CWS. Buscher’s .393 batting average (106-for-270) his senior season is the best batting average by a Gamecock player over the last 12 years and his 106 hits is tied for the second highest single-season total in school history. He totaled 201 career hits, one of 23 players at Carolina to record 200 or more hits.
His success at Carolina led him to being selected in the third round of the ’03 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. He would spend three seasons in the Giants minor league system before being selected by the Twins in the Rule Five Draft. Buscher made his MLB debut on July 27, 2007 and spent two and a half seasons with the Twins culminating in a first place finish in the American League Central division in 2009.
Buscher is completing his work towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
