What Clemson baseball must do next after one of worst seasons in program history

Erik Bakich is prepared for his toughest offseason as Clemson baseball coach.

The Tigers’ 2026 season came to an end after losing 5-4 to No. 10 seed Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament on May 19 at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“It’s my responsibility to get this program competing for championships,” Bakich said. “Failed to do that this year, and I will assure that 100% of my energy is getting this program back where it needs to be.”

Clemson (31-26), the No. 15 seed, was eliminated from the conference tournament with the loss. Notre Dame (31-21) will face No. 7 Virginia Tech (29-23) in the second round on May 20 (5 p.m. ET, ACC Network).

Clemson needed to win the ACC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson went 10-20 in ACC play, losing eight of 10 conference series to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022 and first time in Bakich's four-year tenure. The Tigers' 20-conference losses are tied for the most in program history.

Clemson tied for last place with Duke. The only other last-place ACC finish in Clemson baseball history was 1957.

Bakich said Clemson having “sweeping change” this offseason is too strong to say, but he is aiming for “sweeping improvements” this offseason.

Here's what Clemson needs to address this offseason to rebound from a disastrous 2026 season.

What Clemson baseball needs to address in transfer portal

Notable players Clemson will lose to expiring eligibility are starting pitcher Michael Sharman, outfielder Jack Crighton, catcher Jacob Jarrell and outfielder Ty Dalley.

Clemson could lose several players in the MLB Draft: pitchers Aidan Knaak (starter), Drew Titsworth, Ariston Veasey and Justin LeGuernic; second baseman Jarren Purify, utility player Tryston McCladdie and first baseman Luke Gaffney are draft eligible.

Bakich said retaining Clemson’s top players like Purify will be the team’s top priority this offseason.

The Tigers will have some young, talented arms next season with Danny Nelson, Dane Moehler and Brendon Bennett. Jacob McGovern should also return next season after missing 2026 with an elbow injury.

However, another priority should be adding a top starter and reliever in the transfer portal like Clemson did with Sharman (Tennessee) and Veasey (Alabama) this year. The Tigers' top two starters will likely be gone, and Clemson needs better trusted arms in its bullpen.

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Catcher/outfielder Nate Savoie, the team's leader in batting average (.330), will return with outfielder Bryce Clavon, shortstop Tyler Lichtenberger, third baseman Jason Fultz Jr. and infielder Jackson Moore. First baseman Collin Priest, who hit 12 home runs in 2025, should also return after missing the entire 2026 season with a hamstring injury.

Savoie is the only one of these players who batted above .300 and hit double-digit home runs (16). Clemson should target a slugger in the portal who can generate immediate runs and another player who can get on base.

Clemson will also add the No. 17-ranked recruiting class, per Perfect Game. Pitcher Blake Bryant headlines the class as he is ranked No. 61 in MLB.com's top draft prospects. Utility player Tait Reynolds, who is competing to be Clemson football's starting quarterback in 2026, is also expected to play baseball.

Will Erik Bakich make staff changes for Clemson baseball?

More talent will be needed, but Bakich may have to consider staff changes for the first time in his Clemson tenure. His three longtime assistants: Nick Schnabel (hitting and infielders coach), Jimmy Belanger (pitching) and Griffin Mazur (catchers), have all been with Bakich since he was hired before the 2023 season.

Clemson's hitting dipped this year to .283 (11th in ACC) and .283 with runners in scoring position (lowest in Bakich's tenure). The lack of timely hits doomed Clemson in critical conference games, where the Tigers thrived in previous years.

Clemson also committed 67 errors (fourth in ACC) with eight coming from McCladdie, seven from Purify and six, apiece, from second baseman Jay Dillard and Fultz.

Clemson posted a 4.54 ERA (fourth in ACC). However, the Tigers' pitching staff did not perform as well as Bakich had hoped, causing him to cut down on the number of pitchers used in late ACC series.

Knaak regressed, going 2-6 with a career-high ERA at 5.81. Still, there was some pitching success with Sharman, Veasey and Nelson.

“It’s on me to get it right,” Bakich said. “I think it'll be a bump in the road, in terms of when you look back at, historically, our success.”

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: How Clemson baseball can rebound from one of Tigers' worst seasons