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 4th under Head Coach Erik Bakich.
Last year, the season ended with a sour taste in our mouths. Even at the post-game press conference Coach Bakich talked about needing to be stronger. A power arm, or a power bat was missing off an otherwise solid baseball team. Solid was not good enough a season ago.
The new motto is “Don’t Talk About It, Be About It,” which is in reference to getting to the mecca of college baseball, Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series in June. Bakich has been talking about it every year he’s been at the helm, and it has not quite worked out, so we’re in the “be about it” phase.
The year will feel a little different. Gone is Clemson legend and mainstay in centerfield, Cam Canarella. The do-everything, clutch wunderkind from Hartsville was selected in the supplemental round of the Major League Baseball Draft leaving a huge hole in both the field and the lineup.
Bakich went hard in the portal, getting that power bat or two to supplement what he may have lost after last season.
This is a preview for the first home series of the year.
(Please note, there has been no mention of starting lineups and this is an educated guess, emphasis on guess, for both teams as to who will be on the diamond positionally, not in lineup form)
Clemson Position Players:
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘25 Stats |
| Jacob Jarrell (9) | Catcher | Senior | .263; 5 2B, 15 HR, 41 RBI |
| Luke Gaffney (16) | 1st Base | RS Junior | .271; 7 2B, 5 HR, 39 RBI; 2-2 SB |
| Jarren Purify (23) | 2nd Base | Junior | .298; 10 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 35 RBI; 29-33 SB |
| Tristan McCladdie | Third Base | Junior | .287; 4 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 19 RBI; 9-11 SB |
| Tyler Lichtenberger (8) | Shortstop | Sophomore (transfer from App State) | .341; 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 37 RBI; 7-9 SB |
| Jack Crighton (3) | Right Field | Senior | .287; 6 2B, 2 3B, HR, 19 RBI; 5-6 SB |
| Bryce Clavon (1) | Centerfield | Sophomore (transfer from Georgia) | .333; 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI; 2-2 SB |
| Ty Dalley (3) | Left Field | Senior (transfer from Mercer) | .273; 20 2B, 19 HR, 61 RBI; 2-7 SB |
| Nate Savoie (99) | DH/C/OF | Sophomore (transfer from Loyola Marymount) | .300; 14 2B, 3B, 20 HR, 61 RBI; 7-12 SB |
Other Names to Look for positionally, for the Tigers this weekend:
Clemson Names to Know:
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘25 Stats |
| Jason Fultz (10) | Infield | Freshman | High School |
| Jay Dillard (21) | Utility | RS Junior | .125; 2B |
| Jackson Taylor (15) | Infield | Freshman | High School |
On the mound probably starting this weekend for the Tigers will be:
Clemson Weekend Starters:
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘25 Stats |
| Aidan Knaak (19) | RHP | Junior | 9-1; 4.18 ERA, 16 starts/app, 90.1 IP, 110 K, 29 BB; OppBA: .214 |
| Michael Sharman (29) | LHP | Graduate (transfer from Tennessee) | 3-1; 3.18 ERA, 3 starts, 17 app, 22.2 IP, 25 K, 10 BB; OppBA: .229 |
| Talan Bell (96) | LHP | Sophomore | 0-2; 5.56 ERA, 9 app, 8 starts, 22.2 IP, 22 K, 15 BB; OppBA: .244 |
*Confirmed Starter for the weekend
Coming out of the bullpen some names to know:
Clemson Bullpen:
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘25 Stats |
| Joe Allen (24) | RHP | Graduate | 5-0; 1.84 ERA, 23 app, 29.1 IP, 32 K, 17 BB; OppBA: .206 |
| Hayden Simmerson (12) | RHP | Junior (transfer from Catawba) | 3-2; 3.36 ERA, 31 app, 64.1 IP, 73 K, 19 BB; OppBA: .216 |
| Dion Brown (93) | RHP | Sophomore | 0-0; 7.71 ERA, 4 app, 2.1 IP, K, 5 BB; OppBA: .444 |
| Chance Fitzgerald (29) | RHP | Junior | 4-0; 7.71 ERA, 17 app, 1 start, 28 IP, 24 K, 9 BB; OppBA: .302 |
| Dane Moehler (36) | RHP | RS Freshman | Injured in 25 |
| Noah Samol 35) | LHP | RS Junior | 0-1; 9.82 ERA, 7 app, 3 starts, 7.1 IP, 5 K, 9 BB; OppBA: .240 |
| Brendon Bennett (32) | LHP | RS Freshman | 0-0; 4.05 ERA, 4 starts/app, 6.2 IP, 4 K, 2 BB; OppBA: .160 |
| Luke Kissenberth (30) | RHP | Graduate | No stats in 25 |
There are surely going to be names that were missed on these lists, especially the freshman arms that we just haven’t seen at all, 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.
ARMY PREVIEW:
United States Military Academy (Army) Black Knights
Location: West Point, NY
2025 Record: 25-25; 2nd in Patriot League
Head Coach: Chris Tracz (4th Season; 94-66 Overall)
This is not your grandpa’s opening day weekend for the Tigers. Army comes to town and knowing what they have pledged to do after graduation, you know these kids are tough to the core. That will and does absolutely translate to the baseball diamond.
Yes, they went 25-25 a season ago, but they are returning 7 of their 9 every day starters and have 5 players listed on the pre-season All-Patriot League team. 6 of their returners in the field are seniors, with the one outlier a Sophomore.
Here’s a look at the seven returners from last season.
Army Position Players
| Name (#) | Position | Class Year | ‘25 Stats |
| Chris Barr (15) | 2nd Base | Senior | .308; 10 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 32-36 SB |
| Addison Ainsworth (27) | Centerfield | Senior | .293; 14 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 40 RBI; 10-13 SB |
| William Parker (26) | Left Field | Senior | .301; 15 2B, 6 HR, 40 RBI; 11-15 SB |
| Jack Quinlan (19) | Catcher | Senior | .319; 12 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI; 1-2 SB |
| Michael Delph (6) | 1st Base/Pitcher | Sophomore | .233; 14 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI |
| Zac Farrell (4) | Right Field | Senior | .198; 5 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI; 14-15 SB |
| Thomas Schreck (32) | Shortstop | Senior | .335; 14 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 35 RBI; 3-5 SB |
Army Pitchers
On the bump for the Black Knights, a lot of unknowns coming into the season. The good news is that regular weekend rotation arm Andrew Berg returns. Outside of that, 2-way player Michael Delph is really the only returner with more than 2 starts from a season ago:
*Confirmed Starter for the weekend
| Name (#) | RHP/LHP | Class Year | ‘23 Stats |
| Andrew Berg (12) | RHP | Senior | 5-3, 3.91 ERA, 12 starts, 15 app, 76 IP, 61 K, 29 BB; OppBA: .273 |
| Michael Delph (6) | RHP | Sophomore | 0-0, 3.48 ERA, 4 starts, 5 app, 10.1 IP, 9 K, BB; OppBA: .263 |
| Robbie Penswick (39) | RHP | Junior | 1-4; 1 start, 19 app, 40.1 IP, 31 K 19 BB; OppBA: .242 |
Final Thoughts
Clemson is ranked in the top 20 of every major poll in the pre-season. This is a tough opening weekend series against a very fundamentally sound team who can run and stress Tiger pitchers on the basepaths as well.
Army, on paper, has an obvious deficiency on the mound and we can hope that the bats are awake early for the Tigers.
Army has won four consecutive season-opening games, as well as six of its last seven season openers dating back to 2019.
It’s great to have the boys back at Doug Kingsmore. Early radar says there may be some weather the latter part of the weekend, but as of now the games are set for Friday at 4PM, Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at Noon.
