After a strong summer in the MLB Draft League, Clemson infielder Jarren Purify has only helped his draft stock.
The Tigers’ veteran second baseman missed most of ACC play after being hit on the hand by a pitch during the Notre Dame series in March. Purify suffered a fracture on the pinky side of his hand, forcing him to miss close to a month of his junior campaign.
However, Purify is once again fully healthy and has turned in an extremely strong summer for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League. Purify hit .316 with a 1.038 OPS during the summer stint, with four home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored across 18 games.
With that kind of performance, Purify is almost guaranteed to hear his name called at some point during the upcoming MLB Draft, which is set to begin on Saturday. That means he is likely going to have a decision to make.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I just thank God for every opportunity that comes my way,” Purify said after Clemson’s season ended in the ACC Tournament. “It’s been a great three years here, and if I have the opportunity to do another year, I’m grateful for every opportunity that happens. If that’s the draft for me, if that’s coming back to Clemson for a fourth year, I’m open to all options.”
Where he goes in the draft will likely impact that decision, and his departure would no doubt have serious ramifications for Erik Bakich’s squad. The Tigers were just 8-12 with Purify out of the lineup last season.
“The top priority would be to retain guys like Jarren Purify,” Bakich said after the season concluded. “Guys that make our program go. Guys that don’t lack anything. Guys that have energy, bring positive energy, have demonstrated leadership skills on the field, toughness on the field, play their ass off and never question how hard they play.”
Going into the 2026 season, Purify was ranked as the No. 22 ACC prospect in this year’s draft class, and the No. 50 junior in the nation by Perfect Game. Two more recent projections have him ranked inside the Top 150 overall.
Aside from the time missed due to the injury, Purify has been a constant at second base over his three seasons at Clemson. As a team co-captain last season, the right-hander hit .344 with 35 runs, eight doubles, a triple, five homers, 21 RBI, a .534 slugging percentage, .454 on-base percentage, 25 walks, four hit-by-pitches and 13 steals. He led the team in batting average and on-base percentage, while tying for the team lead in triples.
If Purify does indeed decide to head off for the professional ranks, he would leave a huge void in the top of the lineup.
