Reed Rohlman has been a major catalyst for the Clemson Tigers

The last time that Reed Rohlman was in the college baseball spotlight prior to this season was when his erratic play, including risky base-running and defensive mishaps in the outfield, garnered him some negative attention in last year’s NCAA regionals. This season, Rohlman has been playing with a chip on his shoulder, proving that he is one of the best all-around players in the ACC and leading the Tigers to greatness in the process.

Rohlman is the top hitter for average right now for Clemson, hitting an impressive .396 on the season. Rohlman is also the top Tiger in terms of hits (61) and on-base percentage (.481). Now in his redshirt junior season, Rohlman has really come into his own and his surprisingly spectacular season has him in discussions for ACC Player of the Year.

Typically batting second, Rohlman has teamed up well with leadoff hitter Chase Pinder to man the top of the batting order for the Tigers. In fact, Rohlman, a five-tool player, has ultimately been the X factor for the Tigers this season, catalyzing them to an even better regular season than last year.

Rohlman has accrued quite a reputation for himself as a dangerous hitter in the process. Pitchers have displayed much more of a reluctance in recent weeks to risk throwing it over the plate to him, leading Clemson head coach Monte Lee to praise his star slugger for continuing to get on base in spite of that.

“People are careful with him. A guy who gets on base 45 percent of the time, that’s a really good offensive player.”

Reed has indeed proved to be highly effective in all facets of the game all season long, actually proving to be more of a commodity as an all-around player for Clemson than reigning National Player of the Year Seth Beer. Rohlman has established himself as a highly effective defensive stud in the outfield and runs the bases as well as any Tiger.

From drawing walks to accruing clutch hits to making impact plays in the outfield, Rohlman is quickly solidifying himself as the most important player in Clemson’s lineup. His wily veteran presence and fiery attitude complement his play very well, making him give off the air of being one of the most important leaders on this Clemson team.

Hitting .591 over the course of an entire week recently, Rohlman is on his way to accruing one of the best seasons at the plate in Clemson history. And to think that less than a year ago, he was considered a work in progress.

After losing several key senior pitchers from last year’s team, as well as stalwart catcher Chris Okey, Clemson was expected to experience some ebbs and flows this year, but the Tigers certainly have not. And Rohlman might be the ultimate reason why that is the case.

Every great college baseball team needs a spark plug, and Rohlman is just that for the Tigers. Seeming to play his absolute best at picture-perfect times, Rohlman is a catalyst through and through for Clemson. His epic performance in a series-clinching game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last month was a prime example, with Rohlman hitting two home runs and driving in seven RBI to lead the Tigers in victory. A marvelous performance in a prove-it game for Clemson, Rohlman’s outing was exactly what Clemson needed.

How a player performs when it matters most is ultimately what defines his legacy, and, so far this season, Rohlman has checked off every box in terms of determining his legacy as a clutch performer. The postseason is near, and Rohlman will have a chance to redeem himself in what is sure to be an all-out run for the College World Series by the Tigers. And there is no better person to lead that charge than Reed Rohlman.