Tag: Monte Lee

Clemson looking to veteran leadership with young team

Fall practice is officially underway for Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, but the field will look a lot different this time around. With key pieces of last season’s roster, including Davis Sharpe, Bryce Teodosio, Adam Hackenberg, James Parker, …

Fall practice is officially underway for Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, but the field will look a lot different this time around.

With key pieces of last season’s roster, including Davis Sharpe, Bryce Teodosio, Adam Hackenberg, James Parker, Kier Meredith, and many others having all since moved on from Clemson after last season, the Tigers have some big shoes to fill, but head coach Monte Lee is not worried. In fact, Lee has been pleased with what he has seen so far from this year’s young squad.

“We feel very good with where we’re at,” Lee told the media on Friday. “It’s a very selfless group and I just like the fact, quite honestly, it’s a very low maintenance group right now. It’s a very quiet group, methodical group. They just kinda go about their business and work and you kind of expect that.”

“We lost a lot of older guys that had a lot of personality on the team from last year, so these guys are kind of quietly going about their business and working really hard. It’s been a great pre-fall practice few weeks just with the individual skill work that we’ve been doing. It’s been a lot of fun and a lot of good quality sessions with the players.”

The Tigers are welcoming 19 newcomers this fall and with that comes a need for veteran leadership. With a lot of last year’s team moving onto their next chapters, Clemson will be looking to its veteran group to step up and lead right where they left off.

“Yeah, it’s going to be different,” freshman All-American Caden Grice said. “I’m more of a leader by example, but I’m looking forward to taking on that role as a vocal leader and try to push some of these guys so we can have the greatest season we can.”

Righthander Mack Anglin is also looking forward to taking on a new leadership role in his third season with the Tigers. The redshirt sophomore, who chose to return to Clemson after being drafted in the 13th round of the MLB draft earlier this summer, is excited to take on his new leadership role this season alongside a very talented top-25 incoming recruiting class.

“I’m really glad that it’s finally my time to lead being a junior now,” Anglin said. This young class and even the freshmen from last year, they’re all extremely talented, so it’s been a lot of fun just being back together and taking some younger guys under my wing, kind of showing them the ropes and working to get better every single day.”

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!

Clemson signing class ranked among top 25 nationally

The Tigers’ 2021 signing class (2022 season newcomers) was rated No. 23 in the nation by Baseball America on Wednesday. The 19 newcomers that comprise the class are already with the team, led by Head Coach Monte Lee, Assistant Coaches Bradley LeCroy …

The Tigers’ 2021 signing class (2022 season newcomers) was rated No. 23 in the nation by Baseball America on Wednesday. The 19 newcomers that comprise the class are already with the team, led by Head Coach Monte Lee, Assistant Coaches Bradley LeCroy (recruiting coordinator) and Andrew See and Volunteer Assistant Coach Jared Broughton.

Clemson was one of seven ACC schools that had a top-25 rating by Baseball America, joining Miami (Fla.) (7), Duke (9), NC State (11), Wake Forest (13), Florida State (19) and Louisville (20).

Will Taylor, who is also a member of the Tiger football team, was the lone newcomer who was drafted in July. He was selected in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers.

The No. 23 rating marks the seventh year in a row Clemson has had at least one top-25 signing class rating.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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Lee adds coach to his staff

Clemson head coach Monte Lee announced a new hire on Wednesday. Matt Heath was added to the Clemson baseball staff as special assistant to the head coach. Heath most recently served as associate head coach and pitching coach at UT Martin from …

Clemson head coach Monte Lee announced a new hire on Wednesday.
Matt Heath was added to the Clemson baseball staff as special assistant to the head coach.
Heath most recently served as associate head coach and pitching coach at UT Martin from 2019-21, and he was also pitching coach under Lee at College of Charleston from 2011-15.

Among Heath’s responsibilities are practice planning and assisting the coaching staff with the following…pitcher development, in-game management, including with the bullpen, on-campus recruiting and the transfer portal.

“We’re excited to have Matt join our staff as a special assistant,” said Lee. “He has a wealth of experience at programs all over the Southeast, both as an assistant coach and head coach, including working with me at College of Charleston. His knowledge of the game and experience will be a tremendous asset for all the coaches and players.”

In 2021, Heath helped the Skyhawks to their best ERA since joining Division I in 1993. In 2019, UT Martin tied for its most victories and Ohio Valley Conference wins in the Division I era in Heath’s first year as an assistant coach.

Heath was head coach at College of Charleston in 2016 and 2017, succeeding Lee as the leader of the Cougar program.

Heath served as an assistant coach at College of Charleston for a total of seven years (two as hitting coach and five as pitching coach), including under Lee from 2011-15. He was a part of four conference championships, three regional appearances and a super regional appearance.

In 2014 under Lee, the Cougars set school records for ERA (2.73), opponent batting average (.224) and walks per nine innings pitched (2.55) en route to the Lubbock Super Regional.

He has also spent time in professional baseball scouting and in the SEC, working with both pitchers and hitters over the years.

In 2009, Heath served as hitting coach at Auburn, helping the Tigers break into the national rankings in numerous categories and setting several school records. He oversaw an offense that belted a school-record 103 home runs and 218 extra-base hits, as Auburn’s .516 slugging percentage was the third-highest mark in school history.

Heath broke into the coaching ranks as an assistant coach at Tallahassee Community College, spending two seasons there prior to his first stint at College of Charleston in 2007 and 2008.

A Fernandina Beach, Fla. native, Heath was a highly touted prep star and was named North Florida Player-of-the-Year as a standout at Fernandina Beach High School. He played at Florida for two years before transferring to play at LSU.

Heath graduated from LSU with a degree in general studies in 2002 and later played in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for two seasons.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, have a daughter, Everett, and son, Hagan. Heath was born March 21, 1979 in Jacksonville, Fla.

—Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications
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Clemson ‘the perfect fit’ for in-state Class of 2022 commit

Being from Anderson (S.C.), Jay Dillard is quite familiar with the Clemson baseball program. He verbally committed to the Tigers last summer, back in July. 17, 2020, as a part of Clemson’s talented 2022 recruiting class. Dillard is a really sound …

Being from Anderson (S.C.), Jay Dillard is quite familiar with the Clemson baseball program.

He verbally committed to the Tigers last summer, back in July. 17, 2020, as a part of Clemson’s talented 2022 recruiting class.

Dillard is a really sound fielder, with defense always being a big focus for him. The right-handed batter and thrower is always trying to create more power from a hitting perspective in the weight room. He’s seen that come to life this past spring. 

While he plays shortstop at T.L. Hanna High School, he’s a versatile defender, who can play just about anywhere he’s needed. Dillard started in the outfield for his high school, playing left field and right field, while also playing some 2B and 3B, before making SS his home after he saw some action there during his sophomore campaign.

Dillard recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his commitment to Clemson and his relationship with the coaching staff.

“I had been going to camps since I was a kid,” Dillard told TCI. “[Head] Coach [Monte] Lee coached a lot of the camps that I went to, he was always there, as well as [assistant] Coach [Bradley] LeCroy.

Dillard also mentioned Tigers’ volunteer assistant coach Jared Broughton, who coached at Piedmont College prior to Clemson. 

Broughton was also Dillard’s team coach. 

Dillard committed to Clemson maybe a year after Broughton got the position on Lee’s coaching staff. Knowing that Broughton was there and already being familiar with him, and being really familiar with Lee and LeCroy, made it a no-brainer for Dillard to stay home.

“The relationships you create over the years, it just feels like home,” Dillard said. “It’s super comfortable to talk to them, easy conversations going. You’re never looking for topics to talk about. Always being comfortable to approach them, even before I was committed. All of them are really friendly guys, who seem to have the same belief and culture that I do. Just kind of the perfect fit for me.”

For a while, Dillard couldn’t get out to Clemson. So, it was just texting back and forth with the Tigers’ coaching staff, sending videos of some of his live at-bats that he’s doing on his own, or just some swings in the cages.

At one point, Dillard and Lee talked about working on some drills for increasing his bat speed and things like that to improve his game. 

A lot of their conversations have just been about catching up with one another. They’ve talked about hunting a good bit, as they’re both avid hunters. 

“I’ve said it before, but it’s a dream come true,” Dillard said. “I grew up a Clemson fan. I’ve been going to games since I was a kid. I’m super excited about it. I know a bunch of guys that are there right now or have been there. Hearing about how much fun they’ve had over the years there, I can’t wait to get on campus.”

Dillard is one of six shortstops that’s a part of Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class.

That’s something that will have to be settled once Dillard and the rest of his future teammates arrive in Tiger Town.

Back when Lee recruited Dillard to come to Clemson, he told him that he “loves recruiting shortstops because they can play anywhere on the field.” Dillard thinks that will be something that gets solved whenever the time comes.

“It’s a loaded class if you look at it,” he said. “Everybody’s put up really good numbers over the summer and over high school season. You look at, even the rankings, Perfect Game’s rankings of everyone in the class. Everyone’s a stud. It’s a loaded class for sure.”

There’s not an added responsibility or pressure for that matter in terms of changing the tide for Clemson’s baseball program, but there is some motivation there for Dillard and Co.

“The guys that I’ve talked to that are in the class and that I’ve played with some of those guys, we’re competitors,” Dillard said. “A lot of us, that I know, want to win at whatever they do. I think it’ll be a class that comes in and just wants to win.”

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Clemson was a ‘family decision’ for recent commit

Ahead of his arrival to Clemson, Lleyton Lackey keeps harping on the “family feel” that awaits him in Tiger Town. Hailing from Georgia’s Evan High School, the Class of 2022 commit, is a speedy and instinctive athlete, who can do it all. Lackey, a …

Ahead of his arrival to Clemson, Lleyton Lackey keeps harping on the “family feel” that awaits him in Tiger Town.

Hailing from Georgia’s Evan High School, the Class of 2022 commit, is a speedy and instinctive athlete, who can do it all.

Lackey, a left-handed thrower and switch hitter recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his prior recruitment and his thoughts on his incoming class.

One of the main things that Lackey wanted to pick his next school based on was family. When he officially committed to Clemson back on July 16, 2020, he chose the Tigers over programs like Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

He felt most at home in Tiger Town.

“They really preached to me the meaning of family and I wanted to make my decision based on what felt right for me and my family,” Lackey said. “It was close to home and my decision was a family decision. That’s what I wanted to be a part of.

Lackey will be an outfielder for Clemson’s baseball program.

He feels like he already has a “close bond” with head coach Monte Lee and assistant coach Bradley LeCroy.

“My relationship is real close,” he said. “I talk with Coach LeCroy and Coach Lee, about the same. I like the fact how they really just made the big pitch of family and they made me feel like I was coming to be a part of that and make an immediate impact.

“Not only about baseball, but just life itself. That was the main thing that I really wanted to focus on. That’s what really sold me, that’s what really made a connection. We talk about anything. We talk about sports, we talk about football last year. “

When Lackey won Player of the Year for his region, Lee texted him and told him “congratulations, keep it up.” 

That meant a lot to him.

“I think it’s the way I play the game,” Lackey said when asked what the Tigers like about his game. “I think that’s the most important thing, just how fast I play the game.”

If Lackey had to choose a player that he plays baseball similar to, he’d say San Diego Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis, Jr. Lackey feels like he plays with a similar style of speed, swagger and excitement, he said.

Beyond that, what does Lackey bring to the table?

“I bring, first and foremost, speed, knowledge of the game,” he added. “I understand what’s supposed to happen in every situation. Confidence, just everything that’s needed in a baseball player.”

As far as Lackey’s senior season of high school baseball is concerned, his main priority is to win the region. The end goal is obviously winning a State Championship, but Lackey wants to see how far his team can take it.

Right now, he’s looking to work on his consistency before he officially enrolls at Clemson.

The Tigers’ Class of 2022 commits embrace the family feel that Lackey’s talking about.

“I think we’re pretty close,” he said. “We talk every now and then, we check up on each other, we see how each other’s doing. I actually played with a couple of players during tournaments [this summer]. We kind of started to build a relationship as well, outside of baseball.”

“We definitely want to come in and make that immediate impact and maybe go to the World Series,” Lackey added. “See how far we can take it.”

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‘Family vibes’ drew this Class of 2022 commit to Clemson

Ahead of his arrival to Clemson, Calvert Clark continues to better his relationship with Monte Lee and the rest of the Tigers’ coaching staff. Hailing from North Carolina’s Charlotte Christian School, the Class of 2022 commit is a big athlete, who …

Ahead of his arrival to Clemson, Calvert Clark continues to better his relationship with Monte Lee and the rest of the Tigers’ coaching staff.

Hailing from North Carolina’s Charlotte Christian School, the Class of 2022 commit is a big athlete, who can play just about anywhere. His fastball sits around 92 mph, he has plus stuff on the mound and great bat speed at the plate.

The plan for Clark (6-4, 205), a right-handed thrower and batter, is to be a pitcher and a position player when he arrives at Clemson.

Clark recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his long-standing connection with the program and his thoughts on his incoming class.

“It’s been great,” Clark said of the relationship he’s been able to build with Clemson’s coaching staff over the past couple of years. “I’ve talked with Coach Lee quite a bit and getting to know him has definitely been great. 

Clark’s head coach at Charlotte Christian, Greg Simmons, goes way back with Lee. 

“When we have our conversations, it’s really never always about baseball,” he said. 

It’s more personable, Lee will ask Clark how his family’s doing and things of that nature. While Lee came and saw Clark pitch this summer, he didn’t offer any advice or critiques, rather, he congratulated Clark on a job well done.

That’s the type of welcoming atmosphere Lee is creating and part of the reason why Clark wanted to commit to Clemson nearly two years ago.

“They’ve always been able to get away from the baseball side,” Clark said, “Because there’s life after baseball. Coach Lee and Coach See, they do a great job of keeping it loose in a way.”

Dating back to when Clark verbally committed to Clemson, he was in the car with his mom driving around Tiger Town and was immediately blown away.

“As soon as I got on the baseball field, I was like wow, this place is absolutely beautiful,” he said. “I really didn’t get that feeling, like that home atmosphere of any other university that I’ve been to. It’s definitely just the family vibes and just the feel of the campus.”

Clark is excited about the prospect of Clemson’s incoming 2022 recruiting class.

In fact, he was just down in Hoover (Ala.) with a couple of his future teammates for the East Coast Pro Showcase at the Hoover Met Complex from Aug. 2-5.

“Just a bunch of dudes that are going to work hard,” Clark said when asked what Clemson fans can expect out of the ‘22 class. “Our team is going to be really good and really competitive. We talk about it all the time, it kind of gives me chills.”

Clark wants to be a part of the class that helps change the tide at Clemson, but he still has another season of high school baseball before he officially enrolls.

With that being said, he’s looking to “go out with a bang” and lead Charlotte Christian to another State Championship, which is always the goal.

What would Clark constitute as his strengths on the diamond?

“Definitely being a leader on the field,” he said. “Being vocal, especially to some of the younger guys, just showing them the way. The way things need to be done.”

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

Talented Florida prospect talks Clemson commitment with TCI

Clemson received a verbal commitment from a talented pitcher in the Class of 2023 earlier this week. Aidan Knaak, who hails from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers (Fla.) is a right-handed batter and thrower, who has plus stuff on the …

Clemson received a verbal commitment from a talented pitcher in the Class of 2023 earlier this week.

Aidan Knaak, who hails from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers (Fla.) is a right-handed batter and thrower, who has plus stuff on the mound and can pound the zone with several effective pitches.

The right-handed pitcher caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his decision to commit to Clemson.

“I was looking for a Power 5 school. I was looking for the academics, they had really good academics and I wanted to study Business and Data Science Statistics,” Knaak told TCI. “Overall, the campus is just a perfect college town and I basically like everything about it.”

Knaak was recently on Clemson’s campus for one of Monte Lee’s camps. He pitched there and the Tigers’ coaching staff really liked what they saw from Knaak. So, they made an offer.

After talking it over with his family, Knaak knew he wanted to be a Tiger. He verbally committed to Clemson on Aug. 3, choosing the Tigers over programs like Georgia Tech and West Virginia.

“I really like the coaches and how they set up the scrimmages,” Knaak said. “I really liked the pitching coach, Andrew See. I like what he had to say and the head coach.”

Knaak was intrigued by Clemson before they even knew about him. So, he contacted his travel ball coaches and from there, they contacted Clemson. 

That ensured that the talented Florida right-hander would be on Lee and his staff’s radar while Knaak was camping there.

The rest is history.

Knaak’s relationship with Clemson’s staff is still pretty new, but he likes Lee because he cares not just about what his players are accomplishing on the diamond, but also in the classroom.

He again touted See, who is very analytically driven. That definitely piqued Knaak’s interest and was a part of what he was looking for in a college baseball program.

As far as his pitching repertoire is concerned, Knaak has five working pitches in his arsenal — fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and his splitter, a pitch he’s still mastering.

“They really liked my location and, of course, my fastball,” he said.

While Knaak already has four solid pitches, you may be asking yourself, why the splitter?

It came about while the Florida pitcher was playing catch.

“I always like to play around with different pitch grips when I’m playing catch and just see what my feel is,” he said. “When I’m playing catch, that pitch is breaking a lot. My catching partner would always say: ‘that’s a really good pitch,’ so I just started working on it and just kept making that pitch better and better, trying to see what I can do with that. That would be a very good pitch to add to my arsenal.”

He’d certainly like to master that pitch before he officially enrolls in Tiger Town.

Looking into the future, Knaak’s goal is to earn a future spot in Clemson’s rotation, but right now he’s focused on helping lead his team to a State Championship. 

“I want to be able to master all my offspeed [pitches] and be able to throw it wherever I want in the strike zone,” he said. “Obviously you have days where you can do that, but being able to do it more often is basically the goal.”

While he’s his own pitcher, Knaak also happens to be a big Los Angeles Dodgers fan. It’s only rather fitting that he enjoys watching both Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, who he described as his “two idols.”

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

Son of former Gamecock talks Clemson commitment with TCI

Clemson’s baseball program received a verbal commitment from a prospect in the Class of 2024 on Monday. Dion Brown, a middle infielder/outfielder/right-handed pitcher from York, S.C., also happens to be the son of a former NFL player and South …

Clemson’s baseball program received a verbal commitment from a prospect in the Class of 2024 on Monday.

Dion Brown, a middle infielder/outfielder/right-handed pitcher from York, S.C., also happens to be the son of a former NFL player and South Carolina Gamecock.

Brown’s dad, Sheldon, enjoyed an 11-year career, where he spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns.

As for the younger Brown, he recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding his decision to commit to Clemson.

“I have a tight relationship with Coach [Monte] Lee and all the coaches there,” Brown told TCI. “I just felt a connection.”

For Brown, everything about Clemson made him want to be a Tiger. From the campus to the connection with the coaching staff. He didn’t feel that type of relationship with any other school. Clemson just felt different.

Brown was at Clemson’s prospect camp this past weekend.

“I did pretty well and they liked what they saw,” he said. “I gave them a call after and we discussed it.”

That’s when Brown offered his verbal pledge to the Tigers, which he officially announced on Monday night.

Throughout his conversation with TCI, Brown kept going back to his relationship with Lee.

“He’s a really nice guy,” Brown said. “I really like his philosophy a lot and how he teaches the game and coaches it.”

What is Clemson getting in a player like Brown?

“I would say I’m quick and I’ve always been the underdog, I’ve never been the biggest kid on the field and I just play my hardest when I’m out there,” he said.

Brown plays all over the field, but Clemson is looking to see how the rising sophomore grows and how big he gets over the next couple of seasons and go from there.

Right now, Brown’s fastball is sitting around 87 mph. He’d like to improve that over the course of the next year.

“I have a very strong arm,” Brown said. “I’d like to reach 90 on the mound by next season.”

As of right now, he models his game after San Diego Padres superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis, Jr., who he watches a lot of in his spare time.

Brown, following in the footsteps of his father, also plays football for Clover High School. It’s always been a dream of his to be a two-sport athlete, which he’s absolutely going to keep chasing. On the football field, he stars at wide receiver.

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

Lee confident in pitching talent on campus

Clemson lost three pitchers with starting experience to the 2021 MLB Draft this month in Keyshawn Askew, Davis Sharpe and Carter Raffield. But head coach Monte Lee told The Clemson Insider earlier this month that the Tigers keep an eye on the …

Clemson lost three pitchers with starting experience to the 2021 MLB Draft this month in Keyshawn Askew, Davis Sharpe and Carter Raffield.

But head coach Monte Lee told The Clemson Insider earlier this month that the Tigers keep an eye on the transfer portal but are confident in the student-athletes still on campus and his incoming signees.

“We’ve looked at it a little bit but not a lot we feel like our incoming class is very good and meets the needs of what we lost,” Lee said. “We feel good about what we’ve got on campus we’ve got a couple of guys that are coming in that if they wanted to sign a professional contract out of high school they could have.”

Here is a look at what Clemson returns to the bullpen this season.

Potential Starting Pitching

Mack Anglin RHP – The Washington Nationals selected Anglin in the 13th round of the MLB Draft but Lee confirmed that he will return for his third season with the Tigers. Anglin showed promise in 56.1 innings over 13 appearances and eight starts last season and hopes to improve his draft stock this season. He has a 2-7 career record with a 4.83 ERA, 44 walks and 86 strikeouts. Likely a weekend guy again.

Caden Grice LHP – Grice burst onto the scene as a freshman last season due to his impressive performances at the plate. But Lee needs to see Grice step up as a weekend starter this fall and spring.

“Caden Grice has got to be a weekend guy for us next year,” Lee said. “We’ve got to make sure and do a better job this fall that when the fall is over going into the spring Caden has got to be a guy on the mound for us too.”

Nick Hoffman RHP – Hoffman started four games for the Tigers last season including a masterful complete game start at Boston College. He stayed in Clemson this offseason to train and rest and Lee sees him as a potential weekend starter or top reliever on his staff this coming year.

Ty Olenchuk RHP – Started in six games for the Tigers last season and showed flashes as a freshman. Played in the Coastal Plains League this summer for the Lexington County Blowfish went 1-1 with a 2.36 ERA in six starts and 26.2 innings pitched.

Potential Relievers

Nick Clayton RHP – Started one game for the Tigers last season but appeared out of the pen 18 times with a 6-2 record and 4.30 ERA in 37.2 innings. Led the team in wins last season and showed the ability to perform as a reliable right handed arm going forward.

Ricky Williams RHP

Paul Labriola LHP

Ryan Ammons LHP – All Star performer in the Valley League this summer 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 12 appearances, all out of the pen. Came on for Clemson late in the season and showed the ability to pitch out of a jam when needed.

Geoffrey Gilbert LHP

Newcomers

Rocco Reid LHP – Top rated lefty out of the Palmetto State from Greenville High School. Lee feels he has a similar style to what Charlie Barnes brought to the Clemson pitching staff.

“Rocco if he wanted to sign a pro contract, get drafted and go play professional baseball he could have but coming to school is very important to Rocco and his family,” Lee said. “He grew up a Clemson fan and we recruited him early in the process we knew that we could get if we recruited him.”

Billy Barlow RHP – Signee out of North Myrtle Beach High School, S.C. Throws around 94-95 MPH with an above average fastball. Needs some refining but enters with impressive stuff and athleticism. Lee feels he could work his way into the starting rotation or serve as a solid reliever.

Casey Tallent RHP – Signee from Hartwell, Ga. with three pitches and above average pitch-ability according to Lee. The Clemson skipper feels he compares to Alex Eubanks in terms of his ability to execute pitches.

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