The start of the 2025 Clemson Baseball Season is just a few hours away and the energy around town and around the program is absolutely palpable. Coach Eric Bakich and the has been quoted many times in pre-season interviews saying that the next logical step would be Omaha, after a regional berth in his first season as Tigers skipper, followed by a Super Regional appearance in year two.
Bakich has also been quoted as saying that he cannot wait for his team to get “punched in the mouth” and see how they respond. Which leads directly into this weekend’s series at Globe Life Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. The opponents are Oklahoma State and Arizona out of the Big XII Conference, followed by Ole Miss out of the Southeastern Conference.
Coach Erik Bakich will miss the first two games of the weekend, serving his two-game suspension that was upheld after a brief appeal. He will be helping the Clemson Athletics Radio team from his hotel room.
Clemson Baseball Briefly:
Clemson finished the 2024 season with a record of 44-15 (20-10 ACC) after losing to Florida in the Clemson Super Regional.
Cam Canarella and his superman cape returns for his junior season. An off-season procedure on his shoulder led Canarella to miss most of the fall, but the pre-season All-American is poised to lead this team both in the field and at the plate.
Aidan Knaak returns to lead the pitching staff. The true Sophomore had 5 wins in his freshman campaign across 15 appearances with a 3.15 ERA. He added All-American honors in his first year at Clemson. He is expected to be the Friday night starter for the Tigers.
Talents Across the Board: All of the talk in the pre-season was about how Coach Bakich was going to fill out his lineup card to start the year. Three impact transfers came in to fill holes left by those that departed via the MLB Draft or graduation. 1 through 9 will be really good, but this will be the deepest Tigers team that Bakich has had in his three years, and it’s not close.
Here is your preview of the Three Opponents at the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown:
Game 1: 2/14 @ 12PM EST
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Head Coach – Josh Holliday (13th Season)
2024 Record – 42-19 (19-9 Big XII)
2024 Result: Lost to Florida in Regional
Preseason Ranked: 13 (Baseball America)
Here are the names to know for Oklahoma State and their 2024 statistics:
Position Players:
| Name (#) | Year | Position | 2024 Stats |
| Nolan Schubart (10) | Jr. | OF | .370 BA, 23 HRs, 49 RBIs |
| Colin Brueggemann (12) | Sr. | 1B | .251 BA, 14 HRs, 50 RBIs |
| Aidan Meola (2) | Sr. | IF | .329 BA, 10 HRs, 47 RBIs |
| Kollin Ritchie (13) | Soph. | IF/OF | .271 BA, 7 HRs, 28 RBIs |
Offensively, the Cowboys are led by Pre-Season Big XII Player of the Year, Nolan Schubart. The junior is also projected to be an early pick in the Major League Baseball Draft in 2025.
Colin Brueggemann is a leader on the diamond as well from his first-base position. The Senior returns after leading the team in runs batted in. A force in the middle of the lineup who provides great protection for Schubart.
This Oklahoma State team is projected to compete for the Big XII Championship. They are a daunting bunch 1 through 9, but also on the mound.
PROBABLE Pitcher for Oklahoma State:
| NAME (#) | Year | Hand | 2024 Stats |
| Gabe Davis (22) | Jr. | RHP | 2-4; 4.17 ERA, 18 App., 45.1 IP, 55 Ks, 25 BBs, OppBA: .217 |
The Friday starter for the Cowboys, Gabe Davis, is 6’9” tall and throws extremely hard from the right side. He will mix three pitches and his overwhelming frame makes him a heck of a challenge for the Tigers on Opening Day.
Game 2: Saturday, 2/15 @ 12PM EST
Arizona Wildcats
Head Coach – Chip Hale (4th Season)
2024 Record – 36-23 (20-10 Pac 12)
2024 Result: Lost in Tucson Regional
Preseason Ranked: 12 (Perfect Game)
Here are the names to know for Arizona and their 2024 statistics:
Position Players:
| Name (#) | Year | Position | 2024 Stats |
| Brendan Summerhill (4) | Jr. | RF | .324 BA, 8 HRs, 59 RBIs |
| Mason White (24) | Jr. | IF | .305, 19 HRs, 65 RBIs |
| Aaron Walton (11) | Jr. | CF | .286, 9 HRs, 36 RBIs (@ Samford) |
| Tommy Splaine (20) | Sr. | C | .230, 5 HRs, 23 RBIs |
Offensively, the Wildcats are led by Junior outfielder, Brendan Summerhill. The confident bat will be the straw that stirs the Wildcats drink. He has been a consistent hitter throughout his first two years in Tucson.
Aaron Walton, a top 50 impact transfer from Samford brings not only a steady bat in the potent Wildcat offense, but also has supplanted Summerhill in centerfield upon arriving on campus. He will be relied on a ton defensively.
This Arizona team was able to sneak up on some teams last year in the last year of the Pac 12 Conference. The Big XII will be a slight step up in competition, but they are primed to match their regional host season a year ago.
PROBABLE Pitcher for Arizona:
| NAME (#) | Year | Hand | 2024 Stats |
| Owen Kramkowski (17) | Soph. | RHP | 3 Appearances, 13.50 ERA; 1.1 IPs; OppBA: .286 |
The Arizona projected starter for Saturday afternoon’s game, Owen Kramkowski, had just three outings a season ago. Word out of Tucson is that he had a tremendous fall camp and Coach Hale is confident in his Sophomore to come out and cement himself as a weekend starter.
Game 3: Sunday 2/16 @ 2:30PM EST
Ole Miss Rebels
Head Coach – Mike Bianco (25th Season)
2024 Record – 27-29 (11-19 SEC)
2024 Result: No Postseason Appearance
Preseason Ranked: NR
Here are the names to know for Ole Miss and their 2024 statistics:
Position Players:
| Name (#) | Year | Position | 2024 Stats |
| Mitchell Sanford (4) | Sr. | OF | .381 BA; 15 HRs, 68 RBIs, 18-19 SBs (@ New Orleans) |
| Isaac Humphrey (51) | Jr. | OF | .310; 10 HRs, 39 RBIs (@ Louisville) |
| Luke Hill (7) | Jr. | IF | .291; 3 HRs, 27 RBIs, 12-15 SBs |
| Campbell Smithwick (12) | Soph. | C | .266; HR, 12 RBIs |
Offensively, the Rebels should be led by two impact transfers, one the Tigers are very familiar with. Mitchell Sanford, coming over after leading the University of New Orleans offensively in 24. Louisville transfer Isaac Humphrey was a bopper in that potent Louisville offense.
Ole Miss lost 10 players to the transfer portal in 2024, but loaded up with some impact guys for the 25 season.
The Rebels are just a couple of seasons removed from winning a National Championship. Many of the players on the roster were a part of that 2022 Championship team.
PROBABLE Pitcher for Ole Miss:
| NAME (#) | Year | Hand | 2024 Stats |
| Mason Nichols (45) | Sr. | RHP | 4-2; 4.15 ERA; 17 App.; 39 IP; 42 Ks, 21 BBs; OppBA: .217 |
The Rebels will throw big righty Mason Nichols for Sunday’s finale. The senior had 6 starts out of his 17 appearances last season. He is slated to be a weekend guy for Ole Miss, and facing this Clemson lineup will be a challenge for the elder statesman.
SUMMARY
This is the first time, maybe ever, that the Tigers have started a season in a tournament like this. They have three great opponents to start the season. Our Tigers are pre-season ranked as high as 8th in the country and will be challenged right out of the gate.
This is going to be a fantastic baseball season for the Tigers, and what a way to start it.
