Tag: 2021 MLB draft

Lee not surprised by Taylor’s early success on the gridiron

Over the first two weeks of the football season, Clemson fans saw flashes of the moxie two-sport standout Will Taylor brings to the gridiron. For Clemson head baseball coach Monte Lee, seeing Taylor in action for the Tigers has been exciting but …

Over the first two weeks of the football season, Clemson fans saw flashes of the moxie two-sport standout Will Taylor brings to the gridiron.

For Clemson head baseball coach Monte Lee, seeing Taylor in action for the Tigers has been exciting but also anxiety inducing as he watches his top recruit take some hits.

“On that first punt return where he got smoked out of bounds, I was like, ‘C’mon now.’ I had to get up and walk around the couch to see if he was OK,” Lee joked before the start of fall practice on Friday. “I wanted to try and reach out to somebody on the sidelines, but I figured they don’t have their cell phones on the sidelines.”

Taylor turned down a potential slot in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft to enroll at Clemson as a two-sport athlete in football and baseball.

The freshman athlete showed off his speed this past Saturday with that 51-yard punt return against South Carolina State and did not shy away from contact in the game either. Taylor earned special teams player of the game honors against the Bulldogs and also ran the ball five times for 20 yards.

Taylor’s baseball teammates enjoy seeing one of their own run down the hill on Saturdays.

“I’m sitting there cheering on the Tigers, and then I see my teammate walk out on the field with them,” Caden Grice said. “And he goes out there and is tearing it up. It’s awesome and I love it.”

Redshirt sophomore Mack Anglin also relishes the opportunity to see his teammate on the football field. And Anglin is excited to see Taylor get more work on the diamond this spring.

“It’s been fun watching him over on the football field. He’s a freak athlete, and we are really excited to get him and see what he can do,” Anglin said.

Taylor said he wants to try and pop over to Doug Kingsmore Stadium and participate in fall practice when his football and school schedules allow. But Lee wants to give Taylor space to grow as a football player and student as well as an opportunity to refine his baseball skills.

As for Taylor’s success on the football field so far, Lee is not surprised at all and is excited to see the freshman’s impact in the outfield this spring.

“He is going to show you what he can do. He’s not a big talker,” Lee said. “He’s going to show you what he can do on the football field and baseball field. His early success with the football program does not surprise me one bit. This may develop some arguments among the Clemson fans, but he is an even better baseball prospect.”

Football season has finally arrived. Time to represent your Tigers and show your stripes!

Florida baseball gets key player back in 2022 after balking on MLB deal

Fabian is coming back to Gainesville after he couldn’t get an overslot deal from Boston.

Florida baseball got some big news on Saturday, as center fielder Jud Fabian announced on Twitter that he will not be signing with the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him in the second round of the 2021 MLB draft last month. Instead, Fabian is returning to Gainesville with two more years of eligibility in tow.

Fabian was considered a potential first-round pick, but with his slide to the second round, he was expected to look for a deal a good bit above the slotted amount. According to reports, he wanted a $3 million signing bonus from the Red Sox, more than $1 million more than his roughly $1.8 million slotted bonus.

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Jim Callis of MLB.com reported that the two weren’t close to a deal, and it seems that Fabian is choosing to take advantage of the leverage he had in the situation. Interestingly, Boston signed his former teammate, Nathan Hickey, to an overslot deal the day before Fabian announced his return.

Fabian was a top recruit coming out of high school and entered his “COVID” sophomore season in 2021 with legitimate first-overall pick hype. He was much too inconsistent for that to come to fruition, batting .249 on the season and leading the team in strikeouts with 79, 25 more than anyone else on the team.

However, when he could connect, good things happened. He had 20 home runs on the season, more than double any of his teammates, and his 46 RBI was second only to Hickey’s 50. On top of that, he’s an elite center fielder, and he finished with a very solid .971 fielding percentage in 2021.

With Fabian coming back for 2022, the Gators will hope for more boom and less bust from their inconsistent star. Fabian, who is clearly looking for a big-time signing bonus next season, has a lot to prove.

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Teodosio signs free agent contract

One of the top center fielders to ever play for the Tigers has signed a free-agent contract. Bryce Teodosio signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels. “I’m super excited I’m jacked up,” Teodosio told The Clemson Insider. As a redshirt junior …

One of the top center fielders to ever play for the Tigers has signed a free-agent contract.

Bryce Teodosio signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

“I’m super excited  I’m jacked up,” Teodosio told The Clemson Insider.

As a redshirt junior this past season, Teodosio batted .235 with eight home runs, 21 runs batted in, 25 runs scored and had six stolen bases. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Simpsonville, S.C., posted a .458 slugging percentage and .361 on-base percentage with 57 strikeouts and 18 walks across 153 at-bats over 52 games played (50 starts).

Clemson’s best defensive outfielder, Teodosio boasts good speed and power and entered the 2021 season with 13 doubles, 13 homers, 43 RBIs, 46 runs, 30 walks, 10 hit-by-pitches and 12 steals in 100 games (84 starts) over his first three years with the Tigers.

Teodosio lettered three times in baseball at Mauldin High School, where he was an All-Upstate selection as a junior and all-region selection as a junior and senior.

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Lee shares with TCI plan for Will Taylor

Clemson football and baseball received a huge boost when projected first round MLB Draft pick Will Taylor decided to turn down a lot of money to be a college athlete. Baseball head coach Monte Lee sat down with The Clemson Insider on Friday and …

Clemson football and baseball received a huge boost when projected first round MLB Draft pick Will Taylor decided to turn down a lot of money to be a college athlete.

Baseball head coach Monte Lee sat down with The Clemson Insider on Friday and spoke highly of the incoming two-sport star.

First and foremost, Lee credited head football coach Dabo Swinney for making sure Taylor had an opportunity to succeed in both sports as a Tiger and working with the baseball program in the recruiting process.

“We have a football coach who wants to give young men an opportunity to maximize their career,” Lee said. “Dabo is great about it when it’s baseball season if he’s actively in the mix for baseball let him do baseball. He is great in that regard.”

Taylor excelled as a three-sport talent at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C. winning a state championship in wrestling and football and won South Carolina’s Gatorade baseball player of the year award. Some publications listed him as a projected top 10 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

But Taylor wanted to play football and baseball for the Tigers and turned down big money to join the college ranks. Ultimately the Texas Rangers selected him in the 19th round on the off chance he would change his mind, but Lee confirmed Taylor would be in orange and white this year.

Before he turns his focus to baseball next spring Taylor will devote his time to the football program where he is expected to help as a backup quarterback and slot receiver. Lee and his staff will have limited time with Taylor during fall ball because of the football season and the NCAA’s 20-hour practice rule but the facilities will be open for him to refine his skills.

“There are things that will have to be off limits in terms of Will in the fall and we don’t want to focus on Will in the fall he needs to focus on the task at hand which is helping the football team win a national championship,” Lee said. “He’s such a God-given talent athletically that I don’t think it will take a lot of reps to get him ready for baseball.”

Lee estimates that after the College Football Playoff Taylor should be able to participate in two weeks of individual skill instruction and 10 to 12 inter-squad scrimmages before the baseball season starts. This will give him over 30 at bats in the preseason.

But for a talent like Taylor, Lee is ready to throw him on the field and see what he can do.

Will Taylor is a guy that this is what you do with him, you put in the field and let him play. He is so athletic and so talented, will he need to knock the rust off? Of course, baseball is not a game or sport where you can roll out and just play it,” Lee said. “It may take Will a little bit of time just to get re-acclimated to baseball, but he’s done it his whole life.”

—Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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Meredith talks with TCI about signing deal with Red Sox

All Kier Meredith wanted out of an MLB team after he decided to wrap up his time at Clemson was a shot to showcase his skillset. On Thursday his dream of pursuing a career in baseball became a reality when Meredith signed a free agent contract with …

All Kier Meredith wanted out of an MLB team after he decided to wrap up his time at Clemson was a shot to showcase his skillset.

On Thursday his dream of pursuing a career in baseball became a reality when Meredith signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox.

The Clemson graduate spent the second half of the 2021 MLB Draft anxiously waiting to hear his name called. But ultimately Meredith was relieved to get the call for the Red Sox after the draft and get an idea of what his future would hold.

“The last five days have been super stressful not having an idea what was going on and just sitting around,” Meredith said. “But I’m just super happy to know where I am heading next.”

The left fielder and Clemson graduate battled back from injuries in his first two seasons to finish the 2021 season with a .283 batting average this season in 47 starts. He was drafted in high school by the Cubs in the 29th round of the 2017 draft but chose to go to college and get his degree.

Meredith showed his ability to get on base with a .383 on base percentage as he drew 12 walks and led the Tigers in hit by pitches with 19. He hopes to utilize his speed more at the next level as he continues to develop.

“First of all speed has always been my best tool so in order for me to have success at the next level I need to utilize that as much as I can,” Meredith said. “I need to continue to develop as a better defender and continue to develop as a better hitter. If I do those three things it will help me have as much success as I’m going to have.”

Meredith credited all of his coaches by name from his time at Clemson for his progression as a player on the field and a man off of it. He especially thanked head coach Monte Lee, assistant coaches Andrew See, Bradley Lecroy, Jared Broughton and Thomas Brittle as well as former Tigers’ hitting coach Greg Starbuck.

“They taught me how to deal with adversity and they taught me how to move on by grinding, pushing and moving forward,” Meredith said. “That’s the biggest thing I learned at Clemson and will help me be more successful than any of the tangible skills they could have taught me.”

Meredith reports to the Fort Meyers training facility next week.

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Where every Auburn player went in the 2021 MLB draft

See where every Auburn player was drafted in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Auburn baseball did not have the season that many were hoping for, but several players still heard their names called during the 2021 MLB draft.

Here is a look at where every Auburn player and signee was drafted.

Ohio State pitcher Garrett Burhenn selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2021 MLB draft

Another Ohio State pitcher gets his name called in the 2021 MBL draft!

We have another Ohio State pitcher off the board.

Not too long after Seth Lonsway went to the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB draft, his fellow starting pitcher Garrett Burhenn was taken in the ninth round by the Detroit Tigers with the No. 255 overall pick.

Burhenn notched seven wins to lead the Buckeyes in 2021 while posting a 3.81 ERA. It was thought that he’d go somewhere in the draft, and when all the dust settled and that proved to be true. His coach believes it’s in large part because of his professionalism and ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes.

“Garrett Burhenn is steady Eddy and maybe one of the better starters in the Midwest,” said OSU coach Greg Beals. “He just takes the ball and gives his team a chance to win every game. He is in absolute control of himself all week long and when I say that, his preparation is top notch. His awareness of who he is and how he pitches successfully, is at an extremely high level. He has command of four pitches which pro teams are going to like as a future starter. Garrett’s a guy that the scouts believe can be a starter in the big leagues for a long time.”

Congrats again to Burhhenn. We’ll all be watching as you embark on the next chapter in your journey to make it to the show.

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TCI Exclusive: Parker receives call he’s always dreamed of

James Parker received a call he has dreamed of for a long time on Monday afternoon. The Seattle Mariners selected the Clemson shortstop with the 234th overall pick during the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. His father Tim Parker received a …

James Parker received a call he has dreamed of for a long time on Monday afternoon.

The Seattle Mariners selected the Clemson shortstop with the 234th overall pick during the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

His father Tim Parker received a similar call 31 years ago after a stellar career with the Tigers. Tim was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in third round the 1990 MLB Draft and paved the way for his son to take a shot at achieving his big league dreams.

“It does to think that he went through this whole thing so that I can do it as well is pretty special and I’m really excited,” Parker told The Clemson Insider.

He’s been dreaming of this moment since he was a little kid and after an impressive career at Clemson, Parker is ready to take the next step.

“It’s a dream come true obviously we all grow up having the desire that you want to play at the next level,” Parker said. “This is just a dream come true I’ve put in a lot of work from when I was younger until now and I’m really speechless but super excited to compete and work hard.”

Parker proved a reliable bat for Clemson this past season and furthered the legacy of great shortstop play in the program with a steady hand in the middle infield.

He led the Tigers in batting average this season hitting .324 with 38 RBIs and eight home runs he also recorded a .928 fielding percentage as he started all 52 games at shortstop during the 2021 season.

Parker didn’t have a long conversation with the Mariners but is excited to discover his role in the organization.

“It all happened quick so I talked to them maybe 10 minutes before it happened and it’s exciting,” Parker said. “I haven’t talked to them a whole lot but I’m just excited more so just to be a part of it.”

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Cleveland gets another Gator, this time Jack Leftwich in 7th round

The fourth-year junior heard his name called in the seventh round on Monday by the Cleveland Indians at pick No. 216.

The 2021 Major League Baseball amateur draft continues to roll along and the latest Gator to get picked among the best that the collegiate ranks have to offer is pitcher Jack Leftwich. The fourth-year junior heard his name called in the seventh round on Monday by the Cleveland Indians at pick No. 216.

The Tribe also drafted his teammate ace pitcher Tommy Mace at No. 69 in the Competitive Balance B round sandwiched between rounds two and three, as well as prep Gators commit infielder Jake Fox with their very next pick at No. 95 overall.

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This was not the first time Leftwich has been drafted — the Detroit Tigers took him in the 39th round back in 2017 before he elected to attend UF. While the second time around certainly resulted in a much higher selection, the overall results are rather underwhelming for a hurler who had high hopes in Gainesville, especially given that his ranking per MLB Pipeline entering the draft was No. 156.

The right-hander from Orlando began the 2021 season as the second starter in the rotation, but after six tries found himself relegated to a relief role. He settled into the bullpen reasonably well — though he did continue to have flare-ups now and again — and managed to strike out more than a batter per inning while keeping runners off base. Still, it never really felt like he had earned Kevin O’Sullivan’s confidence back after his demotion.

That said, Leftwich’s draft slot has an estimated value of $203,400, which he may have some leverage in negotiations considering both his higher projection as well as the option to return to Florida. It seems fairly likely that he plays another year in the Orange and Blue, unless there was more to O’Sullivan’s decision than we know.

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Clemson starting pitcher taken in draft

A standout Clemson pitcher was taken on Day 2 of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday. Left-handed hurler Keyshawn Askew was selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round of the draft with the 292nd overall pick. As a redshirt sophomore …

A standout Clemson pitcher was taken on Day 2 of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.

Left-handed hurler Keyshawn Askew was selected by the New York Mets in the 10th round of the draft with the 292nd overall pick.

As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Askew struck out 69 batters in 57.0 innings pitched across 12 games (11 starts), yielding just 11 walks. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound native of Powder Springs, Ga., had an ERA of 5.84 and allowed 68 hits.

Askew, who has seen action as both a starter and reliever during his Clemson career, went 2-1 with a 4.21 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched over 21 appearances (10 starts) in his first two seasons, giving up 58 hits (.276 opponents’ batting average) and 26 walks with 48 strikeouts.

Askew was a second-team All-American by Perfect Game coming out of McEachern High School, where he was an all-state and all-region selection and lettered three times in baseball.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!