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How Clemson baseball is trying to overcome drop in home runs
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- How Clemson baseball is trying to overcome drop in home runs
CLEMSON — Clemson baseball was one of the best home-run hitting teams in the ACC last season but hasn't achieved the same level of success in 2025.
The No. 4 Tigers (33-6, 11-4 ACC) have hit 44 homers (tied for ninth in the ACC) after crushing 109 in 2024. They lost over 70% of their home-run production, including four of the top five home-run hitters.
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Clemson hoped the development of center fielder Cam Cannarella and catcher Jacob Jarrell and the transfer portal additions of third baseman Josh Paino, first baseman Luke Gaffney and designated hitter Collin Priest would help replicate last season's success, but it hasn't at the midway point of conference play.
"We've hit some balls hard and haven't really had that explosion," Clemson coach Erik Bakich said.
Clemson's scoring has dropped from 8.1 runs per game in 2024 to 7.7 this season. Bakich has preached getting deep into counts to either earn a walk or hit the ball hard, and the first three hitters in his lineup embody these goals.
Clemson is fourth in the nation in walks with 250, and left fielder Dominic Listi has been its biggest catalyst. The leadoff hitter leads the team in walks and hit by pitches, and his plate discipline allows him to challenge pitchers for extended plate appearances.
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"When Dom gets in the batter's box, I know he's going to get on base every time," Cannarella said. "He likes to compete up there, and he's a dog."
Listi is followed by Cannarella, a projected first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, then second baseman Jarren Purify. Both lead Clemson in batting average and runs. Cannarella is a nightmare for pitchers because of his big-hit potential. Purify leads Clemson in steals with 16 on 19 attempts.
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When either of them are on base, Clemson trusts the rest of his lineup, including Paino, Gaffney and Priest, to send these runners home. Paino is hitting .368 with runners in scoring position; Gaffney is .310, and Priest is .359. These averages are better than their standard batting average.
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Clemson is also second in the nation in sacrifice flies with 31, and Gaffney leads Division I in the category with 37.
Clemson is hoping for its home-run hitting to erupt in the second half of ACC play. If it doesn't, its ability to just get on base then move runners into scoring position to plate runs is a viable method for them to continue their pursuit for the College World Series.
"We've got some things to get better at, obviously, as everyone does," Bakich said. "If we have a second half like we did the first half, I think we'll be in pretty good shape."
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson baseball trying to overcome drop in home runs
