The Clemson baseball team received a major boost with the addition of Luke Gaffney, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, via the transfer portal. Gaffney, a 6’2″ 215-pound slugger, put up eye-popping numbers in his debut season at Purdue that have Tiger fans dreaming of championships.
As a Boilermaker, Luke Gaffney terrorized Big Ten pitching, posting a .359 batting average, a .449 on-base percentage, and a blistering .646 slugging percentage for an impressive 1.095 OPS. The talented freshman led Purdue in nearly every offensive category, bashing a team-high 13 home runs, driving in 64 runs, scoring 62 times himself, and tallying 75 hits – all program records for a first-year player. Gaffney’s 62 runs scored also tied the Purdue single-season record.
The right-handed slugger added 15 doubles and accumulated 135 total bases while drawing 29 walks against just 32 strikeouts, showcasing an advanced approach at the plate. Defensively, he was nearly flawless, committing just one error in 53 starts at first base.
Gaffney’s prodigious power, advanced hitting approach and positional versatility earned him Second-Team Freshman All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). He took home Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades five times, demonstrating remarkable consistency throughout the season.
Prior to his breakout campaign at Purdue, Gaffney was a standout at Boyle County High School in Kentucky, earning All-State recognition as a catcher. His potent right-handed bat and strong arm behind the plate made him a coveted recruit.
Gaffney joins a Clemson squad fresh off a 44-16 season and seeking to take the next step into the College World Series. His middle-of-the-order thump and ability to play first base or serve as a designated hitter should help boost an offense that ranked outside the top 100 nationally in slugging in 2024.
With Luke Gaffney in the orange and purple, expectations are soaring for Clemson baseball in 2025. Tiger fans could be witnessing the start of something special at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
