- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Clemson Baseball Boasts Impressive Pitching Depth
Head coach Erik Bakich is excited about the Tigers' deep pitching staff heading into the 2026 season.
Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:47am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Clemson baseball head coach Erik Bakich is very optimistic about the team's pitching depth for the upcoming 2026 season. The Tigers have several options to fill out the starting rotation behind ace Aidan Knaak, and Bakich feels the team has more depth on the mound than ever before, with 18-20 pitchers capable of contributing significant innings. This added depth will allow Clemson to better manage its pitchers' workloads early in the season and ensure the staff is fresh for the critical late-season stretch.
Why it matters
Pitching depth is crucial for college baseball teams looking to make deep postseason runs. Clemson struggled with injuries and lack of depth on the mound in Bakich's first few seasons, so the improved pitching staff should give the Tigers a better chance of competing for an ACC title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2026.
The details
Bakich highlighted several pitchers who will be in the mix for starting roles, including Drew Titsworth, Talan Bell, Dane Moehler (returning from injury), and Michael Sharman. The Tigers also added some key transfers in Sharman, Hayden Simmerson, and Ariston Veasey, and have a talented group of freshmen in Dan Margolies, Nick Frusco, Danny Nelson, and Eston Simpson who could make an impact. Bakich believes this depth will allow the team to better manage the workloads of its starters, particularly ace Aidan Knaak, to keep the pitching staff fresh for the critical late-season stretch.
- Clemson's 2026 baseball season begins on February 13 with a three-game series against Army at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The players
Erik Bakich
The head coach of the Clemson Tigers baseball team, now in his fourth season leading the program.
Aidan Knaak
Clemson's ace starting pitcher who will anchor the Tigers' rotation in 2026.
Drew Titsworth
A Clemson pitcher who will be in the mix for a starting role this season.
Talan Bell
A Clemson pitcher who will be in the mix for a starting role this season.
Dane Moehler
A Clemson pitcher returning from injury who will compete for a starting spot.
Michael Sharman
A transfer pitcher who Clemson added to bolster its pitching depth.
Hayden Simmerson
A transfer pitcher who Clemson added to bolster its pitching depth.
Ariston Veasey
A transfer pitcher who Clemson added to bolster its pitching depth.
Dan Margolies
A freshman pitcher who could make an impact for Clemson this season.
Nick Frusco
A freshman pitcher who could make an impact for Clemson this season.
Danny Nelson
A freshman pitcher who could make an impact for Clemson this season.
Eston Simpson
A freshman pitcher who could make an impact for Clemson this season.
What they’re saying
“As everyone would guess, we are planning on Aidan Knaak starting things off on Friday nights for us. Drew Titsworth, Talan Bell are in the mix. Dane Moehler is coming back from surgery so he will be in the mix when he gets back. Michael Sharman is certainly very capable.”
— Erik Bakich, Head Coach
“We feel like we've got plenty of guys that can start. We just have more depth than we feel like we've ever had on the pitching mound. Normally, it's like, who are the 9-11 guys that are going to get 90% of the innings. This year, we are looking at 18-20 guys that can spread the wealth.”
— Erik Bakich, Head Coach
“That is a luxury item from a standpoint where we don't overextend Aidan Knaak in February and March. We can do our best to try and save his bullets for June when we really need him. Just make sure he is peaking, and all of the pitchers are peaking at the end of the season. Having depth on the mound is certainly conducive for not overthrowing guys early.”
— Erik Bakich, Head Coach
The takeaway
Clemson's improved pitching depth should give the Tigers a significant advantage this season, allowing them to better manage their pitchers' workloads and ensure the staff is fresh for the critical late-season stretch. This could be a key factor in the team's pursuit of an ACC title and NCAA Tournament berth.
