CLEMSON — Clemson baseball’s 2027 roster is nearly set in stone.

With the transfer portal closed as of July 1 and the MLB Draft signing deadline on Monday evening, the Tigers’ roster for next season is all but finalized. The 2027 roster is expected to feature 21 returners and 20 new additions. Clemson will go without 18 names from last year’s roster because of players transferring, signing professional contracts or running out of eligibility.

The biggest get of coach Erik Bakich and his staff’s offseason was a player they already had.

Right-handed pitcher Aidan Knaak will suit up for the Tigers in 2027 despite being drafted in the fifth round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He chose not to sign a professional contract and, with the NCAA’s new eligibility rules, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Knaak, an All-ACC first-team selection in 2025, will likely be Clemson’s top arm next season.

“There’s unfinished business here, and I’m committed to growing, developing, and putting in the work to be better for my teammates and this program,” Knaak wrote in an Instagram post confirming the move on Monday.

Keeping Knaak on the mound for the Tigers was especially important because Clemson lost four pitchers to the MLB. Drew Titsworth, Justin LeGuernic and Ariston Veasey made up three of Clemson’s five draft picks in 2026, and lefty starter Michael Sharman signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago White Sox. Catcher Jacob Jarrell was also drafted and signed with the Atlanta Braves.

Outside of Knaak, Clemson’s most promising retention from 2026 is infielder Jarren Purify. As a junior, Purify batted .344 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 40 games played. Luke Gaffney, Tyler Licthenberger and Tryston McCladdie are also set to return after all batting over .270 last season.

Danny Nelson and Dylan Harrison are the most experienced returning pitchers behind Knaak, with more than 30 innings pitched last season. Brendon Bennett will also return after pitching 22 innings before suffering a season-ending injury.

The Tigers lost nine players to the transfer portal, the most impactful being Nate Savoie. He hit .329 with 52 RBIs and started in all 57 games last season. He’ll play for Texas A&M in 2027.

Clemson brought in two catchers, Isaac Cadena (Southern California) and Bennett Edwards (Georgia Southern), in its transfer class of eight players to make up for the loss of Jarrell.

All but one of Clemson’s 13 high school commits are expected to make it to campus. Right-handed pitcher Blake Bryant was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 31st overall pick and chose to sign. Dutch Fork standout Ethan Offing, the only other player drafted among Clemson’s 2026 high school recruits, did not sign with the Boston Red Sox after being picked in the 18th round.

Among those high school recruits is Clemson football quarterback Tait Reynolds. He skipped the spring with the baseball program as an early enrollee to focus on football, but has been open in the past about his plans to continue playing baseball.

Here are all the players expected to be on Clemson’s 2027 roster:

Returning players