It’s the best time of year around Clemson. The colder weather is starting to subside giving way to birds chirping, trees blooming, allergies, and Clemson baseball starting their season, the 2nd under Head Coach Erik Bakich.
No one was hotter going into the postseason a year ago than Clemson was, the #3 national seed. However, Tennessee came into Doug Kingsmore Stadium and took the Clemson regional leading to a disappointing end to an otherwise fun first season for Bakich and the boys.
Fast forward to this weekend, and the start of the season, and the Tigers welcome in the 2023 Big East Champions Xavier Musketeers to DKS this weekend.
This is a preview for the first home series of the year.
Note: Starting pitchers have been named by both teams and they are as follows:
Friday (4PM EST): RHP Billy Barlow (Clemson) vs. RHP Luke Hoskins (Xavier)
Saturday (2PM EST): LHP Tristan Smith (Clemson) vs. LHP Nolan Hughes (Xavier)
Sunday (1PM EST): RHP Aidan Knaak (Clemson) vs. RHP Nick Boyle (Xavier)
Coach Bakich mentioned in many of his interviews previewing the season that the starting pitchers are not all the way “stretched out” and will be on strict pitch counts this first few weeks. While the three starters that were named maybe raised some eyebrows, Clemson fans would have to think that these starting roles will work themselves out as the season gets going.
Here are the Clemson Tigers names to know and the best guess at probable starters going into Opening Day:
Clemson Position Players:
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Jimmy Obertop (11) | DH | Sr. (transfer Michigan) | .266, 29 HRs, 97 RBIs |
| Cooper Blauser (4) | 1st Base | RS Fr. | |
| Blake Wright (8) | 2nd Base | Sr. | .250, 8 HRs, 45 RBIs |
| Jacob Hinderleider (6) | Shortstop | Sr. (transfer Davidson) | .282, 7 HRs, 43 RBIs 5-7 SBs |
| Andrew Ciufo (5) | 3rd Base | Jr. (transfer Georgetown) | .297, 9 HRs, 37 RBIs 11-12 SBs |
| Will Taylor (16) | Left Field | Jr. | .362, 5 HRs, 36 RBIs, 11-11 SBs |
| Cam Cannarella (10) | Centerfield | So. | .388, 7 HRs, 47 RBIs, 24-29 SBs |
| Alden Mathes (17) | Oufield | Sr. (transfer Richmond) | .296, 9 HRs, 41 RBIs 11-12 SBs |
| Jacob Jarrell (9) | Catcher | So. | .208, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs |
Other Names to Look for positionally, for the Tigers this weekend:
Clemson Names to Know:
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Jarren Purify (23) | Infield | Fr. | |
| Nolan Nawrocki (2) | Infield | RS Fr. | |
| Nathan Hall (22) | Outfield | So. | .243, HR, 12 RBIs |
| Tristan Bissetta (27) | Outfield | RS So. | .154 |
| Jack Crighton (3) | Outfiend | So. | .239, 3 RBIs |
| Devin Parks (42) | Outfield | Fr. |
On the mound, here are the weekend’s announced starters for the Tigers:
Clemson Potential Starters:
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Billy Barlow (30) | RHP | RS So. | Missed most of ‘23 |
| Tristan Smith (18) | LHP | So. | 0-1, 4.55 ERA, 31.2 IP, 43 Ks, 25 BBs |
| Aidan Knaak (19) | RHP | Fr. | High School |
Coming out of the bullpen some names to know:
Clemson Bullpen:
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Nick Clayton (20) | RHP | RS Sr. | 8-0, 3.17 ERA, 48.1 IPs, 53 Ks, 27 BBs |
| Rob Hughes (48) | RHP | RS Sr. | 0-1, 1.56 ERA, 17.1 IP, 21 Ks, 3 BBs |
| Reed Garris (15) | RHP | Jr. | 4-0, 2.12 ERA, 29.2 IP, 39 Ks, 13 BBs |
| Casey Tallent (26) | RHP | Jr. | 1-1, 3.43 ERA, 21 IP, 19 Ks, 10 BBs |
| Rocco Reid (51) | LHP | Jr. | 0-1 8.10 ERA, 16.2 IP, 22 Ks, 14 BBs |
| Lucan Mahlstedt (47) | RHP | Jr. (transfer Wofford) | 7-2, 2.69 ERA, 83.2 IP, 68 Ks, 18 BBs |
There are surely going to be names that were missed on these lists that will likely be impact players, and as the season progresses, fans (and writers alike) will have a better feel about probable lineups and weekend starters.
OPPONENT Preview:
Xavier University
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
2023 Record: 39-25; Lost in Nashville Regional (Eliminated Vandy)
Head Coach: Billy O’Conner (7th Season; 152-154 Overall)
This is not your grandpa’s opening day weekend for the Tigers. The Musketeers are a really good club that will test the highly ranked Tigers. Xavier returns 7 of their top 8 hitters statistically from a season ago.
The Big East Conference has named 4 Musketeers to their pre-season All Big East team led by first baseman Matt McCormick and second baseman Jared Cushing in the field and Luke Hoskins on the mound. The ‘teers return production from 11 hitters from 2023.
Here’s a look at the top hitters from a season ago.
Xavier Position Players
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Matt McCormick (25) | 1B | Sr. | .309, 14 HRs, 44 RBIs, 3-3 SBs |
| Jared Cushing (32) | 2B | Grad. | .284, 14 HRs, 50 RBIs, 9-11 SBs |
| Matthew DePrey (15) | Catcher | Sr. | .278, 14 HRs, 42 RBIs, 3-3 SBs |
| Garrett Schultz (10) | Outfield | Grad. | .278, 3 HRs, 23 RBIs, 6-9 SBs |
| Tyler DeMartino (33) | Outfield | Sr. | .255, 10 HRs, 32 RBIs |
| Carter Hendrickson (31) | Outfield | Jr. | .250, 5 HRs, 23 RBIs, 5-8 SBs |
| Grant Stephenson (6) | 3B | Sr. | .236, 3 HRs, 29 RBIs |
| Hayden Christiansen (24) | C/DH | So. | .436, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs |
Xavier Pitchers
On the bump for the Musketeers, only six pitchers return with experience in the Big East, with one being Carter Hendrickson who plays two-ways. Xavier has added some arms from the transfer portal, a few from lesser divisions of college athletics and two from the B1G Conference.
Here are the announced weekend starters for the Xavier Musketeers:
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Jack Niedringhaus (26) | LHP | So. | 2-0, 3.71 ERA, 17 IP, 10 Ks, 8 BBs |
| *Luke Hoskins (34) | RHP | Jr. | 7-2, 4.48 ERA, 78.1 IP, 53 Ks, 18 BBs |
| Jonathan Kelly (8) | RHP | Grad. | 3-4, 4.66 ERA, 56 IP, 42 Ks, 16 BBs |
| Connon Bailey (54) | RHP | Sr. | 0-1, 6.38 ERA, 18.1 IP, 11 Ks, 12 BBs |
| Nick Boyle (45) | RHP | Sr. | 1-2, 7.36 ERA, 18.1 IP, 17 Ks, 23 BBs |
| Alex Vera (12) | LHP (transfer Illinois) | Grad. | 1-1, 5.74 ERA, 31.1 IP |
| Nathan Stahl (13) | RHP (transfer Indiana) | Sr. | none |
| *Tyler Sausville (23) | LHP (transfer New Haven) | So. | 5-3, 3.33 ERA, 48.2 IP, 52 Ks, 22 BBs |
| *Terry Murray (29) | RHP (transfer Rhode Island College) | Grad. | 8-2, 2.57 ERA, 70 IPs, 77 Ks |
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Luke Hoskins (34) | RHP | Jr. | 7-2, 4.48 ERA, 78.1 IP, 53 Ks, 18 BBs |
| Nolan Hughes (11) | LHP | Jr. (transfer from Fordham) | 2-3, 8.12 ERA, 47.2 IP, 67 Ks, 44 BBs |
| Nick Boyle (45) | RHP | Sr. | 1-2, 7.36 ERA, 18.1 IP, 17 Ks, 23 BBs |
Interesting Tidbit: Former Michigan and Clemson Grad Transfer Shortstop Riley Bertram is an Assistant Coach for the Musketeers.
Final Thoughts
Clemson is ranked in the top 15 of every major poll in the pre-season. This is a tough opening weekend series against a very well-coached team who can hit the long ball and stress Tiger pitchers on the base paths as well.
Xavier has an obvious deficiency on the mound and we can hope that the bats are awake early for the Tigers. Remember, Blake Wright hit two homeruns on opening day a season ago to help lead the charge.
It’s great to have the boys back at Doug Kingsmore. Early weather is predicting rain for the final two games, so check back with Clemson Sports Media for updates on possible game time changes.
