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Clemson RHP Aidan Knaak (Photo by Eddie Kelly)
The 2026 college baseball season is almost here. As such, we’re breaking down every preseason Top 25 team in greater detail. Check out Clemson’s 2026 season preview below.
Quick Hits
Last Season: 45-18 (18-12 ACC); Eliminated in Clemson Regional
Final 2025 Ranking: No. 24
Coach (Record at school): Erik Bakich (133-53, 4th season)
College Baseball Top 25 Skinny
Clemson has moved steadily forward under Erik Bakich, building credibility through consistency rather than flashes. Over his first three seasons, the Tigers have won 133 games, reached a super regional in 2024 and remained competitive annually in a league that rarely offers grace. The trajectory is clear. The next step is not relevance but breakthrough. This offseason reflected that intent. Clemson retained much of its core while making targeted portal additions designed to complement, not overhaul, the roster. The result is a team with enough depth to contend deep into June, even as the path through a loaded conference remains unforgiving.
Clemson Baseball Strengths
Clemson returns a staff capable of absorbing innings and controlling series, beginning with third-year ace Aidan Knaak. His calling card is one of the most effective changeups in college baseball, a pitch that allows him to neutralize hitters without needing to overpower them. Drew Titsworth also returns after a strong 2025 campaign in which he worked primarily out of the bullpen. He is expected to move into a weekend rotation role alongside Knaak, giving Clemson a front-end pairing that blends reliability with swing-and-miss potential.
Behind them, the staff carries volume and versatility rather than dependence on a single look. The broader pitching profile was sharpened deliberately. Clemson emphasized development this fall, shifting resources toward pitching lab-based refinement rather than pure workload. The approach mirrors the model Bakich employed at Michigan during its run to the 2019 national championship series. The results were immediate. Fifteen pitchers touched 95 mph during the fall, reflecting both physical gains and intent.
Clemson Baseball Weaknesses
Several projected offensive contributors arrive from lower-major backgrounds, including outfielder Nate Savoie from Loyola Marymount and Ty Dalley from Mercer. Both bring tools, but translating that production to a higher level is rarely seamless. There are also internal variables. Collin Priest offers size and raw power, but passivity has limited his impact at times. Clemson has hitters with ingredients, but fewer with established track records against elite pitching. For a team aiming to push beyond the super regional round, more consistent offense will be required.
Clemson Baseball Player To Know
Knaak has been Clemson’s stabilizing force atop the rotation for two seasons, built around elite feel for his changeup. The pitch features roughly three degrees of separation in vertical approach angle from his fastball and arrives with late fade and tumble. He throws it with conviction and consistent arm speed, allowing it to play in any count. In TrackMan games, the changeup generated a 50% whiff rate and a 36% chase rate, numbers that reflect both deception and command. It is a dependable separator in a class where few offspeed pitches carry that level of reliability.
Clemson Baseball 2026 Projected Lineup, Rotation
PosPlayerYearAVGOBPSLGABHRRBINote/scouting reportCJacob JarrellSr..263.387.51519815411BLuke GaffneyJr..271.357.3881885392BJarren PurifyJr..298.417.4622086353BTryston McCladdieJr..287.393.51194519SSTyler LichtenbergerSo..341.410.468205337Appalachian StateOFNate SavoieSo..300.384.6752032061Nate SavoieOFTy DalleySr..273.352.5882451961MercerOFJack CrightonSr..287.370.378143119DHCollin PriestJr..240.407.4801961252PosGSIPERAWHIPSO%BB%SPAidan KnaakJr.1690.14.181.1128.77.6SPDrew TitsworthJr.754.24.281.3921.18.0SPTalan BellSo.822.25.561.6320.413.9RPJoe AllenSr.029.11.841.2625.413.5RPJacob McGovernJr.235.03.860.9130.88.4RPMichael SharmanR-Sr.322.23.181.2825.510.2Tennessee