With baseball season right around the corner, The Clemson Insider continues our preseason coverage as we take a brief look at the 14 returning members of the 2018 Clemson pitching staff.
On Tuesday, head coach Monte Lee announced Jacob Hennessy will be the Friday night starter in the season opener versus William & Mary, while Brooks Crawford will start on Saturday and Jake Higginbotham will start Game 3 on Sunday.
Clemson’s 2018 returning pitchers
#20 Mat Clark LHP *FR
Redshirted in 2017 as a member of the developmental squad
Three-time all-state and all-region selection during high school
Provides a lefty option out of the bullpen
#50 Andrew Coker RHP *FR
Redshirted in 2017 as a member of the developmental squad
Finalist for Mr. Baseball in South Carolina as a high school senior
Will compete for innings out of the bullpen
#19 Brooks Crawford RHP JR
7-0 with one save and a 2.88 ERA in 43 career appearances (two starts)
Allowed 65 hits (.249 OBA) in 68.2 IP with 26 BB and 48 K
Versatile righty who will get the start on Saturday
#44 Ryley Gilliam RHP JR
6-3 with four saves and a 4.23 ERA in 42 career appearances (six starts)
Allowed 55 hits (.227 OBA) in 66.0 IP with 32 BB and 66 K
Team’s closer that will anchor the back end of the bullpen
#41 Bo Gobin RHP *FR
Redshirted in 2017 as a member of the developmental squad
South Carolina AAAA Player-of-the-Year as a high school senior
Will compete for innings out of the bullpen with a sidearm delivery
#40 Owen Griffith RHP SO
1-2 with a 1.23 ERA in 12 career appearances
Allowed eight hits (.151 OBA) in 14.2 IP with three BB and 14 K
Came on late in 2017 and will be a key contributor out of the bullpen this season
#32 Jacob Hennessy LHP SO
2-1 with three saves and a 3.82 ERA in 26 career appearances
Allowed 32 hits (.274 OBA) in 30.2 IP with 11 BB and 37 K
Long reliever in 2017 that will will start on opening day
#24 Jake Higginbotham LHP *SO
3-0 with a 4.59 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts)
Allowed 39 hits (.300 OBA) in 33.1 IP with 21 BB and 28 K
Missed last season recovering from injury and will start on Sunday
#37 Ryne Huggins LHP *FR
Redshirted in 2017
Ranked as #1 lefty in SC by Diamond Prospects
Provides another lefty option out of the bullpen
#39 Travis Marr RHP *FR
Appeared in 1 games in 2017 (1.0 IP; 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K)
Received medical redshirt for 2017
Righty that is competing for a job in the starting rotation
#30 Mitchell Miller LHP SO
0-0 with a 22.09 ERA in six career appearances
Allowed six hits (.353 OBA) in 3.2 IP with six walks and four strikeouts
Talented lefty that can be used as a starter or out of the bullpen
#35 Ryan Miller RHP SR
1-0 with a save and a 3.09 ERA in 11 career appearances
Allowed nine hits (.220 OBA) in 11.2 IP with two walks and 11 K
Missed the last half of 2017 with injury but will compete for a weekend starter spot
#47 Alex Schnell LHP SR
3-0 with one save and a 6.03 ERA in 45 career appearances (three starts)
Allowed 74 hits (.289 OBA) in 62.2 IP with 33 BB and 42 K
Lefty that can provide both long relief or be used as a lefty specialist
#23 Carson Spiers RHP SO
0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three career appearances
Allowed four hits (.308 OBA) in 3.0 IP with zero BB and three K
Will come out of the bullpen in 2018 after being used as a two-way player last season.