On Friday, Aiken (S.C.) South Aiken 2017 right-handed pitcher Connor O’Rear received a phone call from Clemson head coach Monte Lee, who wanted him to come on campus for a visit.

On Saturday, O’Rear visited and then pulled the trigger on a commitment to Lee and the Tigers yesterday afternoon.

The Clemson Insider caught up with O’Rear, who also considered Furman, Spartanburg-Methodist and the College of Charleston, about his decision.

“He called me and wanted me to come up on a visit, and I said I wanted to come as soon as possible,” O’Rear said. “So, we made it happen today. He took me around campus and showed me everything. I liked everything. Clemson has been my dream, so it was pretty easy for me.”

O’Rear’s father went to Clemson, and living two and a half hours away from the school, O’Rear attended many games as a kid and grew up a fan of the Tigers.

“They’re really good in academics, and I’m a pretty good student, so it’s where I’ve always wanted to go,” O’Rear said.

O’Rear is an excellent student and very projectable pitcher who throws hard and works with a three-pitch mix of fastball, curveball and changeup.

“I’m really projectable,” O’Rear said of his strengths as a pitcher. “I already throw pretty hard, and I feel like I’m going to be able to throw a lot harder in a couple of years when I get stronger.”

When he begins his baseball career at Clemson, O’Rear simply hopes to carve out a role on Clemson’s pitching staff.

“Just coming in and competing for time on the mound,” he said.

Having pledged to his dream school, O’Rear can’t wait to start the next chapter of his life.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “It’s what I’ve wanted since I was a little kid, and now I finally have it. It’s just amazing.”