Clemson Lands D2 All-American Hayden Simmerson, Who Led Nation with 24 Saves and 41 Appearances in 2025
Coach Erik Bakich has been on the hunt for players early this week, as Clemson received another transfer pitcher earlier today in Hayden Simmerson. With the disappointing end to the season and the way the pitching situation played out, this is a first and foremost need for the Tigers. If you want to survive postseason play — or even a standard three-game weekend — pitching is the first thing you need. Clemson locked in their second commitment from the transfer portal with the addition of Simmerson.
The 6’3 relief pitcher, who occasionally started for Catawba College, posted a career 6-6 record with a 3.69 ERA and 25 saves. In 2025, Simmerson earned D2 All-American honors and led the nation in both appearances and saves, all while recording a 3.36 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 64.1 innings pitched.
Although he wouldn’t be described as a “power pitcher,” Simmerson’s stuff is electric — he held opponents to a .548 OPS last season. With the losses of Ethan Darden, Chayce Kieck, and potentially more arms to the portal, it’s clear that Erik Bakich and his staff are being aggressive in addressing Clemson’s biggest need: pitching.
