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Clemson Baseball: 2020 Projected Line-Up, Analysis, Predictions

ByShawn Spencer|
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

The Clemson baseball team will begin its 2020 season Friday against Liberty. Here’s a look at what Tiger fans should know heading into the season.

The Clemson baseball team will be in action for the first time in 2020 Friday when the Tigers play host to the Liberty Flames.

The Tigers finished last season by being eliminated in the Biloxi Regional and will be looking to get back to the NCAA Regional round this year with a different finish in mind.

Here’s a look at the weekend starters- which were announced earlier this week- and our projected line-up, as well as analysis and predictions for the season.

Weekend Rotation:

  1. Sam Weatherly (LHP)
  2. Davis Sharpe (RHP)
  3. Spencer Strider (RHP)

Clemson will likely piggyback veteran Mat Clark (LHP) with Strider, who is coming off rehab for Tommy John surgery. Strider is expected to be limited to somewhere between 50-60 pitches in his first few outings as a way to ease him back into the process.

Monte Lee and his crew are excited about what Weatherly brings to the mound as the Friday starter and it will be interesting to see if this rotation can develop and bring much-needed depth to the starting pitching room, something we didn’t necessarily see a lot of last season.

2020 Projected Line-Up:

  1. Kier Meredith (LF)
  2. Bryar Hawkins (2B)
  3. Sam Hall (SS)
  4. Davis Sharpe (1B, when not pitching)
  5. Adam Hackenberg (C)
  6. Bo Majkowski (RF)
  7. Bryce Teodosio (CF)
  8. Chad Fairey (DH)
  9. James Parker (3B)

Analysis:

When you look at the overall body of work with this team, you’ll notice two things:

  1. The team has talent, but is very young.
  2. There’s a ton of solid pitching depth.

Clemson isn’t going to light up the scoreboard with homeruns this season. The Tigers are going to have to play small ball and work on manufacturing runs home. They’re going to have to rely on players like Meredith, Sharpe and Hackenburg to provide a little power while most mostly working to generate base-runners.

We’re going to see plenty of platooning early on as the team feels its way out and guys find their role, but the big key will be developing those pitching options and building depth in the bullpen and in the starting rotation.

Prediction:

Clemson baseball fans shouldn’t go into this season expecting a trip to Omaha. This team has the talent to get back to a regional and then anything can happen from there. It’s going to be important for them to find ways to win games early as the youth grow up and then they’ll be able to take steps towards competing near the end of the season.

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