The procrastinator’s guide to Clemson baseball’s 2020 season
Clemson baseball will open its 2020 season on Friday as the Tigers begin a three-game series with Liberty.
If you didn’t realize Opening Day was so soon and you haven’t kept up with the Tigers all that much during the offseason, that’s OK. We’re here to help. Here’s our last-minute guide to getting up to speed on Clemson baseball for 2020.
COACH SPEAK
Monte Lee is entering his fifth season as the head coach at Clemson, after previously serving as the head coach at his alma mater College of Charleston for seven years. Lee led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons, and Clemson hosted a regional in three of those four years. But Clemson has yet to advance out of a regional under Lee.
He led College of Charleston to a Super Regional in 2014 but is still searching for his first trip to the College World Series as a head coach. As a program, Clemson has not advanced past a regional since reaching the College World Series in 2010.
THESE GUYS ARE GONE
Clemson lost its top three hitters off of last year’s team in Logan Davidson, Grayson Byrd and Kyle Wilkie. The three not only led the Tigers in batting average but also in doubles and RBIs in 2019.
Davidson was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Athletics after hitting .291 with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. Byrd was drafted in the 24th round after leading Clemson with a .316 batting average. He also led the Tigers in homers (16) and RBIs (59). Wilkie was drafted in the 12th round by the Pirates after hitting .307 with six home runs and 41 RBIs.
Clemson also lost what would have been its leading returning hitter from last season in Michael Green, who was dismissed from the team last month. Most of Clemson’s top arms are back, but Lee announced in January that Jacob Hennessy’s career is over due to an injury. The lefty went going 4-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 appearances, with six starts in 2019.
THESE GUYS ARE BACK
Clemson returns most of its top pitchers from last season, most notably Mat Clark and Davis Sharpe. Sharpe went 7-4 with a 3.20 ERA as a freshman in 2019, while Clark was 9-3 with a 3.21 ERA. Those two will be in the weekend rotation, along with Sam Weatherly, who is slated to be Clemson’s Opening Day starter after going 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA out of the bullpen last season.
The Tigers should get a boost on the mound with the return of Spencer Strider and Carter Raffield after the two missed last season with injuries. Both pitchers are expected to play important roles for Clemson this season.
Offensively the Tigers do have some talent returning, even with their top three hitters from last year now gone. Redshirt sophomore Kier Meredith has the potential to be a difference maker near the top of the order if he can stay healthy. Meredith has appeared in only 22 games over two seasons due to injuries. Bryar Hawkins, Sam Hall and Bryce Teodosio are also back after starting the majority of Clemson’s 61 games last season.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Clemson signed one of the top high school catchers in the country in Jonathan French, but Lee announced Tuesday that the Georgia native will miss at least a month with a leg injury. Pierce Gallo, Regan Reid and Dylan Brewer are other freshmen who have a chance to help the Tigers at the plate in 2020.
Clemson also has eight first-year freshmen on the mound, but finding innings for that group will be tough with what Clemson returns.
OPENING WEEKEND
Clemson opens its season by hosting Liberty in a three-game series. The Flames had an outstanding 2019 season, finishing 43-21 and reaching the NCAA Tournament. Liberty was in the Chapel Hill Regional and won its opening game against No. 2 seed Tennessee, before dropping its next two to close its season.
First pitch Friday for Opening Day is scheduled for 4 p.m. The games on Saturday and Sunday are both slated to start at 1 p.m.
BEST HOME SERIES
Clemson hosts a Florida State team that enters the season ranked No. 12 by D1Baseball from May 14-16. The Tigers also have the always-important annual series against South Carolina from Feb. 28 through March 1. Game 1 of the rivalry series is at Founders Park in Columbia, with the neutral game being played at Segra Park in Columbia, home of the Columbia Fireflies. Game 3 will be played Sunday, March 1 in Clemson.
THE ACC LANDSCAPE
Clemson was picked to finish fourth in the ACC Atlantic Division (tied with Wake Forest) in a vote by the league’s coaches. Miami is the favorite in the Coastal Division. The coaches predicted Louisville to win the Atlantic and the overall ACC title.
WATCH THE GAMES
Clemson will have 32 games shown either on live TV or streamed on ACC Network Extra. Home games against Coastal Carolina (March 24) and William & Mary (Game 1 of doubleheader on May 2) are available on ACC Network, while the home game vs. N.C. State on April 25 is available on a “regional sports network,” which is usually Fox Sports Carolinas. A total of 29 home games are available online on ACC Network Extra. Six regular-season road games are televised on ACC Network, including games at Wake Forest (March 14), Notre Dame (March 21), Louisville (April 10, 11) and Miami (May 9, 10). Thirteen of the other 16 games away from home are available online on various websites, meaning 51 of the 56 regular-season games are on some form of live video in 2020.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 9:33 AM.
