The 2021 baseball season is one the Clemson Tigers would rather forget. A 25-27 overall record, coupled with a 16-20 mark in the ACC, left the Tigers on the outside looking in at last year’s NCAA tournament. So, to try and wash away the sour taste in their mouths, head coach Monte Lee handed his team a bucket and some soapy water this offseason to literally “clean up” Clemson baseball.
“You’re not going to have great leadership if you don’t police the locker room,” Lee told the media during his press availability on the opening day of practice Friday. “And that shows up when it comes to setting up the field, breaking the field down, keeping the dugouts clean, keeping the player lounge clean, the locker room clean. Quite honestly, you’ve got to be able to have those uncomfortable conversations with your teammates for the guys that aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Lee is hoping that attention to the small details will help improve the leadership on his team after last year’s disappointing season. He’s also counting on several returnees, along with a Top 15 recruiting class to get the Tigers back to the postseason.
Sophomore Caden Grice, who was the team’s top offensive player last year, is dealing with a hand injury and will most likely not pitch this season as previously hoped. He’ll concentrate his defensive efforts at first base and in the outfield. However, his bat will be a key component of the Clemson offense after hitting .317 and stroking 15 homers with 53 RBI’s last season. On the mound, sophomore Mack Anglin returns after being drafted in the 13th round by the Nationals in 2021. The righthander was an All-ACC Freshman selection in 2021 with a 3.99 ERA and a team-high 75 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched.
Clemson begins its 125th season of baseball the weekend of February 18th through the 20th versus Indiana at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
