CLEMSON — Tyler Corbitt was going to get his swings in.
Thirty-six of them, at least, because the Clemson baseball alum wanted to link up with all 36 of the foursomes that came out to Boscobel Golf Club in Pendleton on Oct. 26 to raise money for his cancer treatment.
The 26-year-old isn’t far removed from surgeries to remove tumors and install rods in his upper back and right femur. But Corbitt was willing to endure some pain on a cloudy, brisk Sunday if it meant some chip shots and putts with friends and supporters.
“I’ve been so immobile and so stationary for so long, for the past four months, without me having anything to say about it,” Corbitt said. “Now I’m finally starting to feel a little bit better, a little bit more like myself. So if I have a chance to go out there and swing a club, I’m gonna go out there and swing it.”
That is, in itself, a victory.
It’s a win Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich was very much looking forward to.
As the Tigers huddled in their dugout on Oct. 25 after an 8-3 fall scrimmage win over Alabama, Bakich preached finishing “4-0” for the week. They’d already beaten the Savannah Bananas in a zany Thursday exhibition and completed an energetic Friday batting practice with many costumed 8- to 12-year-olds.
But Clemson’s 8:30 tee time on Sunday morning was another opportunity to win the day. There was a rallying of support for Corbitt in July when his diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer was revealed, including a GoFundMe that raised more than $120,000.
Bakich wanted to keep it going.
“He’s got a long road ahead,” Bakich said. “So the more money we can raise for him, we just need to keep doing that and kind of put our arms around him and help him and his family as best we can during this really difficult time.”
Bakich posted a social media callout in mid-October for Sunday’s golf fundraiser, offering to sponsor one of the tournament’s foursomes if he could hit the left-field foul pole at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in 10 swings.
He failed off of a tee 66 times — until Bakich finally smacked one off of the yellow on Swing 67. He offered to cover the $400 entry cost anyway.
That could seem like a lot of effort for an athlete Bakich only coached one season, especially one who batted .148 in just 15 games. But the ex-Michigan coach will never forget Corbitt’s impact on his inaugural Clemson squad in 2023.
“Tyler’s a man’s man,” Bakich said. “He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached.”
Injuries, including a busted ankle, cut into Corbitt’s production that year.
“But I just remember he never once — ever — showed frustration or a sour attitude about it,” Bakich said. “He was an unbelievable teammate. He was a relentless worker.”
Tyler Corbitt played three seasons at The Citadel before he transferred to Clemson for his final two campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
Citadel Athletics/Provided
Bakich recalled Corbitt putting his arm around then-freshmen Cam Cannarella and Jack Crighton in 2023. More than two years later, the Lexington native is facing a fight for his life, and the baseball community returned an embrace.
Several of Corbitt’s former teammates made the trip to Pendleton, including current minor leaguers Caden Grice, Max Wagner, Blake Wright and Austin Gordon, and they each hugged Corbitt on their way out.
Former Clemson coach Monte Lee, currently a South Carolina assistant, was there too.
“I have no words for it,” Corbitt said of the support, including the $120,000-plus raised online. “It blew my family’s mind. It’s taken a relief off of our shoulders and let us worry about what we need to worry about for a while. All I can say is thank you.”
Corbitt is three-quarters of the way through a twice-a-week infusion treatment, which has allowed him to avoid chemotherapy. He’s had several scans, and they each showed shrinkage and recession of tumors.
He just recently became well enough to participate in golf fundraisers, including one earlier this month with people he grew up with in the Columbia area.
“I heard he played golf the other day and might have even shot a 41. I’ll have to confirm that,” Bakich said, smiling. “He’s doing everything in his power to not let this keep him down, even though it’s really, really tough.”
Corbitt was off crutches Sunday, leaning up against the railing of a wooden stage at Boscobel Golf Club as he picked a raffle ticket out of a bucket. The winner came forward to accept his $470 prize — and then gave the money right back to Corbitt.
Bakich handed out bags of baseball equipment to the fundraiser’s top-scoring foursomes. The team of ex-Tiger pitcher Nick Clayton, a couple of his family members and Clemson golf alum Colby Patton won the day with a score of 51.
Erik Bakich (right) helps hand out bags of prizes awarded during a golf fundraiser for Clemson and The Citadel alum Tyler Corbitt on Oct. 26.
Jon Blau/The Post and Courier
There wasn’t absolute certainty on the amount raised, but it was estimated the fundraiser brought in another $30,000 for Corbitt. The fan section that sits behind the right-field fence at DKS, known as the “Cheap Seats,” donated $6,500.
“Tyler, we are in it for the long haul with you,” Bakich said from the stage. “Anything you need, name it, and consider it done.”
After he heard those words, Corbitt ducked his head slightly and clapped along with the crowd. He was clearly moved.
“It means a whole lot more than people think. Everything. Every little bit,” Corbitt said. “I’ll forever be in debt to all these guys. Hopefully we can do this again soon. I’m looking forward to the next one, really.”
Pitching delivers in the Alabama scrimmage
While the Corbitt golf fundraiser capped a sweep, Clemson’s wins on the field this fall did inspire some good feelings, as well.
Especially about the improved depth of the Tigers’ pitching staff in 2026.
“I mean, we could literally go down the list,” Bakich said, implying the list is quite long.
Even with Clemson resting veteran pitchers Aidan Knaak and Jacob McGovern this fall, along with redshirt freshman Dane Moehler as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, the Tigers were able to hold the Banana Ball All-Stars (which featured a lineup with former MLB first-rounder Jake Skole) and the Crimson Tide to three runs apiece.
Against the Bananas, second-year lefty Brendon Bennett, who missed most of his true freshman season to injury, impressed with a scoreless frame. His fastball can run up into the mid-90s, but his slider was just as good.
Clemson then rolled out freshmen Peyton Miller, Landon Fowler, Eston Simpson and Dan Margolies in Thursday’s exhibition, and the parade continued with frosh Danny Nelson facing the Tide. Those first-year arms were throwing low- to mid-90s fastballs.
“I don’t know if there’s a baseball coach on the planet that would say they’ve got too much pitching,” Bakich said. “So I’m not gonna be the first.”
There just appears to be more behind Knaak and Drew Titsworth if Bennett can stay healthy, Talan Bell continues to progress two years out from Tommy John surgery and Moehler can contribute as he ramps up later in the spring like Bell in 2025.
Bakich has also been really encouraged with sophomore Dion Brown’s growth. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound righty is “pound for pound” Clemson’s most “explosive” arm, Bakich said, touching 97 miles per hour this fall with his fastball.
“Not only is that impressive, but the development of his secondary stuff. He’s got a good breaking ball and a good changeup,” Bakich said. “I could envision a guy like that pitching a lot for us this year just because he’s made such a big jump.”
There were some adventures Saturday because the Tide had a runner on base every inning. That included multiples versus transfers Ariston Veasey (Alabama) and Hayden Simmerson (Catawba). But Clemson got out of every jam with limited damage.
“Our pitching stuff is better, and sometimes you can out-stuff your way out of an inning,” Bakich said. “That’s not the recipe for championship baseball. But you know what? We’ll take it because we found ways to escape.”
Former transfer bat on the right track
What Bakich will also take: The improvements he’s seen from ex-Purdue transfer Luke Gaffney this fall.
The redshirt junior hit just .271 in his first season at Clemson after earning Big Ten freshman of the year honors in 2024 with a .359 average and 13 homers.
“I could see Luke Gaffney returning to form,” Bakich said of the first baseman, who crushed a homer against Alabama after a couple of hard-hit balls against the Bananas.
Meanwhile, the Tigers were without former Michigan transfer Collin Priest this week because of a sprained wrist. But a new crop of transfers, as well as freshmen bats Jason Fultz and Dylan Harrison, have a chance to add depth to Clemson’s order.
Georgia transfer Bryce Clavon and Mercer product Ty Dalley manned center and right field, respectively, this week, and both made leaping grabs at the wall. App State transfer Tyler Lichtenberger played shortstop, while Loyola Marymount’s Nate Savoie showed he can catch and also serve as a power bat at DH.
Titsworth described them as “mesh guys” because of how well they’ve fit in.
“I’ve loved that from them because it’s hard being a transfer,” said Gaffney, who described his own transition last year as “tough.”
“But they’ve really bought into everything and just trying to make this team our own.”