When and if Chris Williams moves back to catcher for 12th-ranked Clemson, head coach Monte Lee anticipates two-time All-American Seth Beer to stay in right field. Lee told the Clemson Insider last week he would start Williams at first base for this week’s three-game series with William & Mary and Beer would start in right.
After Tuesday’s meeting with the media, it seems Beer’s experiment at first base is over with.
“Once Chris Williams is healthy enough to go behind the plate, I would anticipate leaving Seth in the outfield because we have some options we can put at first base,” Lee said prior to Tuesday’s practice.
Lee added the coaches feel Beer is moving extremely well in the outfield.
“He is playing a better right field, right now then I have seen since he has been here,” the Clemson head coach said.
Lee has not decided on who he will start in centerfield or left just yet. He says centerfield is still up for grabs between freshman Bryce Teodosio and senior Drew Wharton, who also is battling it out with fellow senior Robert Jolly for the starting spot in left.
“I can also see scenarios where we play Teodosio in center and Wharton in left because they are both above average defensive outfielders,” he said. “You could also see the scenario where you could play Wharton in center and we put a guy like Robert Jolly in left, too, if we want to have more of veteran presence out there.
“I feel good either way.”
In the infield, Lee says Jordan Greene will start against William & Mary at second base, while Grayson Byrd has the edge over Patrick Cromwell at third base.
“Byrd will probably have the upper hand because of his experience, but Patrick Cromwell has had some incredible at-bats,” Lee said. “He has done really well for us. He can play third or play first base. If we need to DH Chris, if he is a little sore and we need to DH him, we can easily slide Cromwell over there and play him at first base as well.
“If we feel like we need to get Byrd and Cromwell in the same lineup, and Chris is at first, we can play Byrd at second and Cromwell at third. I think we are going to try and find ways to get all of those guys work, but if I was to start it today, I would say Greene would be at second base and we would probably play Byrd at third since they have a lot of experience in those two spots.”