CLEMSON – Clemson head baseball coach Erik Bakich feels like the Tigers will have a lot of depth when it comes to the pitching staff.

Aidan Knaak returns to anchor the starting rotation after winning National Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors a season ago, meaning one spot in the starting rotation is already locked up. Beyond that, Bakich isn’t exactly sure who might slide into the rest of the slots just yet.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have options. In fact, he’s got plenty. Ethan Darden has started 23 games over the past two seasons. Jacob McGovern is a candidate after having a strong end to his freshman season in 2024. The left-hander posted an ERA of 1.96 across his 11 appearances. Then there is sophomore Justin Leguernic, who the staff has high hopes for.

“We’ve got some guys that have done it before, obviously with Ethan Darden,” Bakich said Thursday from Doug Kingsmore Stadium. “We have some emerging guys like Jacob McGovern and Justin Leguernic.”

Seton Hall transfer Michael Gillen is definitely a player worth keeping an eye on. The hard-throwing right-hander will almost certainly carve out a role for himself. The only question is whether it will be as a starter or reliever.

In his two seasons at Seton Hall, Gillen was 5-1 with four saves and an ERA of 1.51. He struck out 70 and walked just 19 in 65.2 innings pitched and opponents hit just .225 against him.

Among the freshmen, Dane Moehler has separated himself from the rest of the first-year pitchers.

“Then we have some new players like Dane Moehler, who is kind of like Aidan Was last year. Very advanced for a freshman. Dane, of all the freshmen, has really elevated himself. Then we have the transfer Michael Gillen.”

With about three weeks remaining before the start of the season, Bakich still has plenty of time to get his rotation sorted out. At the same time, due to the depth, the head coach is confident that the Tigers’ pitching staff will be a strength for his team.

“The strength of the pitching staff – we have plenty of guys who are starting candidates, but working back to front, we have Lucas Mahlstedt and Reed Garris back in the back. Veteran with closing and high-leverage relief experience certainly to shorten a game, gives us a lot of confidence.”

Clemson will open the season on Feb. 14 against Oklahoma State in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers will also face off against Arizona on Feb. 15 and Ole Miss on Feb. 16.