Lee’s Journey Includes A Stop At Home

It’s a little more than seven miles from Dorman High School to Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg. 

When the University of South Carolina baseball team takes the field against Wofford on Feb. 17, Hudson Lee’s journey will have been much, much longer than that.

“It’s definitely been a long road to get here,” Lee said. “I’ve dealt with injuries. I’ve been at a couple different schools and there were times where things didn’t go the way I planned. But every stop along the way taught me something. I’ve been able to learn from different teammates, different coaches, and different environments, and that’s helped shape me not just as a player but as a person.”

Lee’s road started at Dorman. There, he was a feared left-handed pitcher and defensive end/tight end, earning All-State nods in both sports. As a senior in 2024, Lee was the second-ranked lefty and ninth-ranked player overall by Perfect Game. Dorman coach Jack Jolly recalls Lee’s determination as much as his performance.

“He was a three-sport athlete so he stayed busy year round,” Jolly said. “He had some injuries he battled, but he never complained. He was a hard worker who was relentless in trying to be the best that he could be.”

Jolly said Lee’s even-keeled personality helped, too.

“I think it helped that he was real humble,” Jolly said. “He’s mild-mannered. Things didn’t seem to bother him. Yes, he wanted to be on the field, but I think he took things in stride. To be a good baseball player you have to have that mentality. At the same time, he’s also one of most competitive guys I’ve ever coached.”

That humility and calm nature have served Lee well in the face of a number of setbacks. He said he’s handled those moments thanks to a lot of support as well.

“Going through injuries especially tests you,” he said. “There are moments where you have to stay patient and trust the process. I’ve been fortunate to have people who believed in me the entire time – coaches, teammates, family – even when I wasn’t on the field. That support meant everything.”

Lee first signed with Wake Forest, where he spent two years, and then transferred to Clemson, where he made 15 relief appearances with 22 strikeouts and held opponents to a .192 batting average. Highlights for the season included two innings of perfect relief against Liberty and a five-strikeout outing against Duke. In July, he announced his commitment to South Carolina.

“Sometimes it’s about the right fit,” Jolly said. “It seems like he’s found it.”

Lee is embracing the opportunity.

“Baseball takes you a lot of places, and I’m grateful for the relationships I’ve built along the way,” he said. “Now being at South Carolina, I don’t take any of this for granted. I understand how much it took to get here, and I’m just thankful for the opportunity to compete and represent this program.”

One of those relationships is something that Harrison’s is excited about as well. 

“We are long-time partners with University of South Carolina athletics, and we’re proud to add Hudson to our stable of NIL athletes along with our partners at Ariat,” Kevin Harrison said.

The relationship with Lee is deeper than just athletics, though.

“I’ve had the chance to watch Hudson play since he started elementary school,” Harrison said. “His parents are friends, and his grandfather Wendell Lee has been a mentor to me for years on our school board. In fact, he’s the longest-serving school board member in Spartanburg County history. Watching Hudson battle through so many injuries through the years and never give up on his dream and continuing to put in the work should be an inspiration to us all.”

Harrison and a bunch of those longtime supporters will get a chance to see Lee take the field close to home, as the Gamecocks will take on Wofford at Fifth Third Park, home of the Hub City Spartanburgers. It won’t be Lee’s first time on a local minor-league stage, as he played at Greenville’s Fluor Field while at Dorman. He also squared off against Spartanburg at historic Duncan Park, carrying on a family tradition.

“I had the opportunity to play at Fluor Field and Duncan Park in high school, so I’m familiar with those environments. Duncan Park is especially unique for me because my grandpa played there about 72 years ago. That connection makes it a little more special and gives it some history for our family.”

Lee is excited that his journey will now give the people who have supported him for so long a chance to see him play just a few miles from home.

“Having the opportunity to play in front of friends and family is going to be a great experience,” he said. “Those are the people who have supported me from the beginning, especially through injuries and everything along the way, so being able to compete in front of them means a lot. It’s also really cool to see how much Spartanburg has grown. Having a minor league stadium like that in the city gives people a place to come together and watch baseball. It says a lot about how the game is growing back home, and I’m excited to be a part of that atmosphere.”