Staff report
CLEMSON, S.C. – Along with three other Clemson pitchers, reliever Hayden Simmerson (Carson) was out the door as soon as the transfer portal opened on June 2.
Simmerson, who has one remaining season of college eligibility, hopes to be drafted by MLB in July.
He definitely has a chance to be picked. He throws mid-90s and is projected as a potential mid-to-late round selection. Elite relief specialists are typically targeted by MLB organizations starting in the middle rounds.
If he’s not drafted, he’ll be with a different college program in 2027, and he should have plenty of options.
Simmerson made 19 appearances out of the bullpen this season and led the Tigers in saves with four. He had 46 strikeouts in 32.1 innings with a low walk rate.
Simmerson was a first team All-America at Catawba College as a sophomore.
In two seasons with the Indians, he pitched in 61 games for coach Jim Gantt and had 25 saves, six wins and 156 strikeouts in 136.2 innings.
