Hello baseball fans, the hours are ticking down to the start of the 2026 baseball season. I haven’t covered baseball in several years, but it feels less gross than other college sports at the moment. While basketball and football are imploding, baseball keeps chugging along (don’t tell me if I’m wrong about this, I need to believe).
Let’s get after it.
Projected Starting Lineup
First Base
#16 – Luke Gaffney – 6’1”, 235 – Rs Jr.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
|
Team |
ST |
AVG |
OPS |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
|
Clemson |
51 |
.271 |
.745 |
26 |
51 |
5 |
39 |
Info
The former Big 10 Freshman of the Year from Purdue struggled to find his groove at Clemson last season. There’s been buzz around Tiger Town this winter that Gafney looks like he’s back to his Boilermaker ways. He hit .359 with 13 home runs as a freshman. If he’s back in form, look for Gaffney somewhere in the middle of the Clemson lineup. In theory, he’s one of the scariest bats on the roster. Hopefully, that theory becomes a reality for the Tigers this season.
Gaffney is a solid athlete and can play right field or behind the plate if needed, but first base will be his initial station. Clemson’s infield is going to be extremely athletic.
Second Base
#23 – Jarren Purify – 5’10”, 190 – Jr.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
|
Team |
ST |
AVG |
OPS |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
|
Clemson |
57 |
.298 |
.879 |
54 |
62 |
6 |
35 |
Info
As a returning team captain from the 2025 squad, much is expected of Purify this season. His game is built around speed and athleticism, and he’s got both in spades. He’s a line-drive hitter who knows what to do once he gets on the basepaths and should be a top-of-the-order hitter.
While Purify is an excellent hitter, he’s an even better fielder. He has great range for a second baseman and is slick in the double play.
Third Base
#4 – Tryston McCladdie – 5’11”, 190 – Jr.
Bats/Throws: L/R
|
Team |
ST |
AVG |
OPS |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
|
Clemson |
27 |
.287 |
.903 |
23 |
27 |
5 |
19 |
Info
McCladdie is the Swiss Army Knife in the Clemson lineup. He’ll start at third, but he can play anywhere other than pitcher and catcher, and he’ll be deployed accordingly. He had the fewest starts of any infielder in Clemson’s 2026 projected starting lineup, but he did lead the Tigers in games off the bench last season due to his versatility.
Regardless of where he’s playing on the field, he’s a tough left-handed outfielder with decent power for his rather diminutive size. Like Lichtenberger, he could feature at either the top or bottom of the lineup because of his ability to get on base.
Short Stop
#8 – Tyler Lichtenberger – 6’0”,195 – So.
Bats/Throws: L/R
|
Team |
ST |
AVG |
OPS |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
|
App St. |
53 |
.341 |
.879 |
40 |
70 |
3 |
37 |
Info
Tyler is the new addition to the infield after a stellar freshman season at Appalachian State, where he earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman-of-the-Year award and first team all-conference honors. He’s a solid contact hitter from the left side of the plate and could slot in at the top or bottom of the lineup, depending on what Coach Backich is looking for on any given day. He failed to reach base in only 6 games last season and has solid speed once he gets on.
He’s a plus defender and should give the Tigers solid defense up the middle of the field with Jarren Purify. Clemson could have one of the better double-play combinations in the ACC if everything works out according to plan, and Lichtenberger moves seamlessly into the lineup.
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Reserves
First Base / DH
#13 – Collin Priest – 6’3”, 260 – Jr.
|
Team |
ST |
AVG |
OPS |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
|
Clemson |
57 |
.240 |
.887 |
36 |
41 |
12 |
52 |
Info
Priest is built like a tight end. When he hits the ball, the ball stays hit. Unfortunately, Priest didn’t make as much contact with the ball as he would have liked last season after transferring from Michigan. He hit .279 with a .578 slugging percentage as a freshman with the Wolverines. Hopefully, the ball finds his bat a few more times this season.
Third/First/DH
#10 – Jason Fultz Jr.- 6’0”, 215 – Fr.
Considered the 37th-best overall freshman in the 2026 class by Perfect Game and the 86th-best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball. He’s considered one of the best professional prospects on the team and has the type of power that could make a difference in the Clemson lineup if it’s calibrated to college pitching.
Fultz is the talent, and the one thing I know about coaching is you get your talent on the field. Look for him to displace the versatile McCladdie at third sooner, rather than later.
Infield
#44 – Dylan Harrison – 6’5”, 215 – Fr.
Harrison joins Fultz as one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 freshman class. Perfect Game Baseball considers him the 21st-best prospect in the 2028 draft. He’s considered more of a pro prospect in the field than on the mound, but Clemson will give him an opportunity to do both. Like Fultz, he’s got dynamite in his bat when he makes contact.
Second Base
#21 – Jay Dillard – 5’9”, 175 – Jr.
Heading into his third season in the program, Dillard is ready to make his mark in the 2026 season after playing in 18 games and starting 5 last season. I’m not sure about the rest of his game, but he’s patient at the plate, drawing 6 walks in 16 plate appearances. He’s a plus fielder who should provide solid depth up the middle for the Tigers.
Overall
I’m far from an expert on this roster (yet), but based on my research, I’m excited to see what the Tigers can do with these pieces. Can the veterans hold off the young bucks for their spot in the starting lineup? Harrison and Fultz are the future of the program, and the future could be now if any of the projected starters falter.
The defense should be elite; if they can get the power guys to produce, things could get exciting on the basepaths in Tiger Town.
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