Could Purify Return to Lineup?
By: Jason Priester April 23, 2026

The Clemson baseball team could get a boost to its starting lineup this weekend.

The Tigers are set to hit the road for a three-game set at Louisville this weekend, and Erik Bakich is hopeful that leadoff hitter and second baseman Jarren Purify will return to action at some point during the series.

“I sure hope so,” Bakich said after the Tigers knocked off USC-Upstate on Tuesday. “Yeah, I sure hope so. We need him back.”

Purify has been out since suffering a broken hand on a hit by pitch during the Notre Dame series a month ago, although he has been used as a pinch runner on a couple of occasions.

Jarren Purify sporting a splint on his right hand during a game against Coastal Carolina (Jason Priester/Clemson Insider)

Getting Purify back would bring some stability back to the top of the batting order. Since the injury, Bakich has used several different players in the leadoff spot, including Tryston McCladdie, Jack Crighton and Bryce Clavon, with the power-hitting Nate Savoie serving in the role most recently. While McCladdie is currently playing, he is dealing with his own injury after being hit in the face during the Stanford series.

Purify was hitting .333 with two home runs, 13 RBI and he is 10-of-15 on stolen base attempts.

Clemson and Louisville begin at three game series on Friday, with first pitch at 6 p.m.