The college baseball transfer portal just cracked open, and already the Tigers are feeling the ripple effects. Lefty Noah Samol, a towering presence on the mound, has decided to enter the portal, becoming the first Clemson player this summer to look for a new home. It’s never easy to see a Tiger move on, especially one with Samol’s upside, but that’s the reality of the modern game.
At 6-foot-7, Samol cuts an imposing figure, and you can’t help but root for him after all he’s battled through. His college career has been a tough road, with injuries constantly getting in the way, but now he’s hoping for a fresh start and a chance to finally show what he can do.
Clemson LHP Noah Samol is entering the transfer portal, I have been told.
— Andrew Riedell (@RiedellAndrew) June 1, 2026
Samol pitched to a 4.76 ERA in 11 1/3 innings pitched this season with 14 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/8rwIJJlRPS
A Career Hampered by the Injury Bug
Samol came into the ACC with plenty of hype, starting out at Georgia Tech. But his time in Atlanta never really got off the ground, as injuries sidelined him for his entire true freshman season and forced him to redshirt. It was a tough break for a kid with so much promise.
Looking for a fresh start, Samol brought his big arm to Clemson before the 2025 season, hoping the change of scenery would finally let him shine. But the injury bug just wouldn’t leave him alone, even in the Upstate.
- 2025 was a tough introduction to Tiger baseball for Samol. He managed only seven outings in his first year in orange, and command issues haunted him all season. His ERA ballooned to 9.82, and he walked more batters than innings pitched. It was clear he was never fully healthy.
- But this spring, Tiger fans finally got a glimpse of what Samol could be when things clicked. In seven appearances, he looked sharper, going 1-0 with a much better 4.76 ERA over 11.1 innings. He showed off his strikeout stuff, fanning 14 and walking just three, and held hitters to a .255 average. Just when it seemed like he was turning the corner, another injury cut his season short. You have to feel for the kid.
High-Upside Arm on the Open Market
With his size and left-handed heat, Samol is sure to draw interest from plenty of programs looking for a difference-maker out of the bullpen. He leaves Clemson with two years of eligibility left, and you know Tiger fans will be rooting for him—just maybe not if he faces us down the road.
Now it’s up to Coach Bakich and his staff to get to work this summer, reloading the pitching staff and making sure the Tigers are primed for a big bounce-back in 2027. The road to Omaha is never easy, but you can bet this group will be ready for the challenge.
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