As Clemson hosts West Virginia, Kentucky, and USC Upstate, keep an eye on these two tigers, Dominic Listi and Collin Priest, as they could be the keys to a postseason run.
With the NCAA Tournament stage set and Clemson’s name atop its regional bracket, all eyes are on Doug Kingsmore Stadium this weekend. The Tigers are back in familiar territory as a host team, but with a loaded regional that includes West Virginia, Kentucky, and USC Upstate, there’s no room for error.
While Cam Cannarella is the name everyone knows and expects to have a good showing in the regional, keep an eye on these two Tigers who could make just as much noise in the Clemson Regional: Dominic Listi and Collin Priest.
Dominic Listi: The Spark Plug That Keeps Clemson Running
Dominic Listi brings the energy to this Clemson team, and you’ll know he’s there when he steps up to the plate. The graduate left fielder has become the definition of reliability for Erik Bakich’s squad, and heading into the Clemson Regional, he’s playing some of the best baseball of his career.
Listi is a table-setter, tone-setter, and frankly, a pitcher’s nightmare. He ranks second on the team in batting average (.306), but where he truly thrives is getting on base—his .504 on-base percentage leads the team, thanks in part to his uncanny knack for wearing pitches (team-high 26 HBP) and drawing walks (team-high 55). If you’re keeping track, that’s 81 free bases from just those two categories.
The lefty is also dangerous once he’s on base, going 10-for-12 in stolen base attempts, tied for second on the squad. His blend of speed and grit makes him a constant threat to score, which he does better than anyone on the roster—he leads the Tigers with 59 runs scored.
But Listi isn’t just about the intangibles and on-base wizardry. He can drive in runs too. He’s tied for second on the team in RBIs (47), has ripped 15 doubles, and has left the yard five times.
And then there’s the postseason pedigree. During the ACC Tournament, Listi caught fire, going 6-for-12 (.500) at the plate with a double, a home run (against Virginia Tech in game one), five RBIs, three walks, and three more HBPs. It was enough to earn him a spot on the All-ACC Tournament Team, and it capped off a stretch that has him riding a nine-game hitting streak coming into the weekend that dates back to game two against Duke.
Five of those nine games have been multi-hit efforts. Put simply: Listi is locked in. If he keeps this up, the Tigers’ offense will look to be tough to slow down.
Collin Priest: The Power Bat Waiting to Explode
If Listi is the guy who keeps the engine running, Collin Priest is the one who can blow the game wide open.
The sophomore left-handed slugger has put together a strong season at the plate, mashing 12 home runs—second on the team—and driving in a team-best 49 RBIs. He’s a middle-of-the-order presence that can change the scoreboard with one swing, and his ability to rise to the moment could be crucial this weekend.
Priest also ranks third on the team in doubles (11), showing he’s not just feast or famine. Even when he’s not hitting bombs, he’s lacing balls into the gap and keeping pressure on opposing pitchers.
He was a bit quieter in the ACC Tournament with a 4-for-16 (.250) performance, but even then, he made his presence known. His towering home run to right-center against Georgia Tech reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be.
That’s the thing about Collin Priest—when he heats up, it happens fast. He’s the kind of player who can string together a stretch of two or three games where he completely takes over, and there’s a sense that the NCAA Tournament might be his breakout stage.
The power is real. The bat speed is real. And if he finds his rhythm early in the weekend, opposing pitchers might be in for some long innings.
Two Tigers to Watch: Dominic Listi and Collin Priest – X-Factors
In postseason baseball, it’s often the experienced, steady hand and the red-hot slugger that carry a team forward. Clemson has both in Dominic Listi and Collin Priest.
Listi will be the guy grinding out at-bats, getting on base, and giving the Tigers every chance to score. Priest is the one who could turn a 2-run lead into a 5-run cushion with one swing of the bat.
Together, they give Clemson a potent one-two punch heading into the regional. If Listi continues to set the table and Priest can clear it, this weekend could be just the beginning of a long and hopefully thrilling run for the Tigers.
Let the fireworks begin at DKS this upcoming weekend.
