Clemson Tigers
Atlantic Coast Conference |
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Last year’s Clemson Tiger lineup boasted
a potent batting order that packed more punch than a Chuck
Liddell uppercut. The top five Tiger hitters averaged .331,
over 10 homeruns and nearly eight stolen bases for the season.
Backed up a pitching staff that held opposition to a 3.73
ERA (26th in the nation) and struck out 8.3 batters a game
(12th overall), Clemson advanced to the Super Regionals where
the streaking  Mississippi
State Bulldogs were able to come from behind in both games
to spoil the Tigers’ chance of advancing to the College
World Series for the 12th time in school history. Clemson
finished the season at 41-23 (18-12 ACC), their 22nd consecutive
season with at least 39 wins.
For Clemson to return to Omaha for the sixth
time since 1996 a number of players will have do develop quickly
as several key producers from last year’s team will
be absent; a Clemson record 11 players were selected in the
2007 MLB Draft and nine of them are no longer on campus. Offensively,
centerfielder Brad Chalk (.366, 0, 18), first baseman Andy
D'Alessio (.319, 17, 50), shortstop Taylor Harbin (.296, 11,
62) and third baseman Marquez Smith (.336, 13, 56) are gone
and pitchers Daniel Moskos (#4 overall pick, 3.29, 6 SVs,
78 Ks in 79.1 IP), David Kopp (6-3, 3.79, 99.2 IP), Alan Farina
(6-3, 3.77, 72 Ks in 57.1 IP), Stephen Clyne (5-2, 2.58, 48
Ks in 45.1 IP), and P.J. Zocchi (4-2, 56 K in 58.1 IP) also
won’t be back in the famed Burnt Orange and Northwest
Purple.
Yet, Head Coach Jack Leggett’s team
is far from being void of returning talent. Two other draftees,
catcher Doug Hogan and shortstop Stan Widmann, turned down
opportunities to go pro and have returned to Clemson to lead
the regrouped and reloaded Tiger roster. Hogan, a senior,
broke out in a big way in ’07, as his .350 batting average
(second on the team) was more than his freshman and sophomore
batting averages combined (.111 and .143 respectively in just
46 at bats total his first two seasons). He will be Clemson
returning leader in virtually every offensive category after
slugging 13 homeruns with 46 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples
and nine stolen bases. He also brings a 15-game hitting streak
into the new season.  Widmann
missed the majority of the last year after an increasingly
painful neck injury ended his season just six games into the
season. While he was on the field Widmann was one of Clemson’s
toughest outs, hitting .409 with six RBI. In 2006 he hit .307
with a .373 on-base percentage and was a perfect 15-15 on
stolen bases. Speedy Addison Johnson, who started in left
field as a freshman in 2007, will slide over to center to
replace Chalk. Johnson hit .286 with eight doubles, five triples
and also stole eight bases. Johnson, a lefthander, will also
have a chance to pitch.
The rest of the roster isn't quite as seasoned,
but is full of potential. Sophomore Ben Paulsen, the son of
Assistant Head Coach Tom Riginos, may start at first base
after batting .258 with five homeruns in 178 at bats his first
year of collegiate action. On the other side of the infield,
junior Matt Sanders, who played for the Young Harris College
Mountain Lions and freshman John Hinson, a 40th-round Philadelphia
Phillies’ draft pick, will compete for the third base
starting position. At second base sophomore J.D. Burgess appears
to have the upper hand for the starting nod. He only hit .236
for the season, but made 45 starts and hit .340 in the last
14 games of the season. He will be challenged for the starting
job by sophomore transfer Mike Freeman, who hit .237 in 48
games for Georgia last year.
Sophomore Wilson Boyd hit .285 with seven
doubles, three triples and a pair of homeruns in 45 starts
in 2007 and is the leading candidate to start in left field.
In right, a pair of freshmen, Chris Epps and Jeff Schaus will
challenge for the starting role. Epps had been selected by
the Chicago White Sox in the 28th round of last year’s
draft and Schaus was chosen in the 35th round by the Texas
Rangers.
On the mound, juniors Ryan Hinson and D.J.
Mitchell each logged significant and effective time as starters
last season and will lead the pitching staff. Hinson led the
Tigers in ERA at 2.74 and complied a 6-2 record in 82.0 innings
pitched which included 14 starts. Mitchell had a 5-0 record
working as both a starter and reliever. He earned a 3.27 ERA
and struck out 49 batters in 52.1 innings. Another junior,
righty Matt Vaughn, impressed in middle relief duty last season.
He went 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA and will be looking to make the
move to a starters’ role in 2008. Sophomores Matt Zoltak
(1-3, 5.65), Justin Sarratt (0-1, 4.85) and Josh Thrailkill
(1 appearance) will all have the opportunity to start after
seeing limited action in ‘07. New additions who could
factor mightily into the Tigers’ winning ways to the
Clemson roster include freshman Trent Rothlin who was a 35th-round
Seattle Mariner draft pick and UNC Greensboro transfer, junior
Clinton McKinney. In 22 appearances for the Spartans, the
submarine hurler McKinney posted a 3.37 ERA and racked up
35 strikeouts with only seven walks in 34.2 innings pitched.
Each will complete for staff roles as it is unknown who will
step into the closer position.
The Tigers open the 2008 season on Feb. 22nd,
hosting the Mercer Bears for a three game series
.
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