Clemson baseball alums have banner MLB Opening Day

Two Clemson baseball alums started the season off in the right way on Thursday night.

Former Tiger Spencer Strider who it was announced made the Braves just a couple days previously, came in in the top of sixth inning with Braves trailing the Reds 6-1 and it up the radar gun with 100 MPH pitches.

Strider pitched two perfect innings, striking out five of the six batters he faced, in the Braves eventual 6-3 loss.

Strider played two seasons at Clemson, going 5-2 with a 4.71 ERA and striking out 89 in 63 innings pitched.

The 23 year old Strider was a fourth round selection of the Braves in the 2020 MLB draft.

Meanwhile, Tiger legend Seth Beer hit a walk off, three run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a victory in their opener.

Beer hit .322 with 56 home runs and 177 RBI in 188 games at Clemson and his name and number is etched in the outfield wall.

Beer was traded with three other players from the Astros organization to the Diamondbacks for Zack Greinke.

The trade turned out to be a stroke of luck for Beer, as the Astros have superstars in any position he would play, including designated hitter, and the chances of him seeing any time at the MLB level with Houston is zero.

The Diamondbacks are rebuilding, meaning Beer will be given every opportunity to succeed and not face the pressure he would in many other situations.

Add in the fact that the National League has added the designated hitter as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and you have a potential career changing season.

Strider wowed with in a couple of outings as a late season call up of the Braves last season and again this year in spring training and forced the Braves hand in keeping him on the defending World Champions.

If Thursday is any indication, that was a smart decision.