CLEMSON — A Clemson veteran is being forced to call it a career.

Right-handed pitcher Casey Tallent is taking a medical retirement due to a shoulder injury. The redshirt junior also missed all of last season with the injury.

“Casey is such an awesome kid,” Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said following Tuesday’s win over Winthrop. “He has pitched in regionals. He has pitched in big games. He has been a huge part of our program. He is such a great teammate.

“Any pitcher, any player, three surgeries later, it is going to be hard to be able to replicate where you were. One surgery, yeah, sure. Two might be a little tougher. Three, that is a lot for a college kid.”

Tallent had developed into a key member of the staff prior to being sidelined. He made 15 appearances during the 2022 season, with all but one coming in relief, and made 16 more in 2023, with all but one of those coming in relief.

“For us, he is such a good teammate and such a positive dude and the guys love him, we can find a way (to keep him on the team),” Bakich said. “We do not want him to go anywhere. We want him around as much as he can.

“Unfortunately, he will not be pitching, but he will be in the dugout. He will be on the road trips. His impact will be in a different way, but he will still make a positive impact on this team.”

Tallent has tallied a 2-1 record with one save and a career ERA of 3.65 across 44.1 innings pitched, with 41 strikeouts to just 22 walks. Opponents hit just .253 against him.

Tallent is the third pitcher for the Tigers that is now out for the season. Transfer Luke Kissenberth and true freshman Dane Moehler are both out for the season as well.