Just as it looked like Erik Bakich was piecing together a bullpen worth getting excited about for 2027, Clemson took another hit — and this one stings.
On Tuesday, June 2, star right-handed closer Hayden Simmerson entered the NCAA transfer portal. After one season locking down the ninth inning in the Upstate, the Tigers’ bullpen ace is off to find a new home for his final year of college ball.
Simmerson’s move caps a rough stretch for Clemson’s pitching staff. What started as a normal offseason shuffle has turned into a full-on exodus from the bullpen.
A steady 2026 in relief
While the rest of the bullpen dealt with inconsistency, Simmerson was the guy Bakich leaned on. He led the Tigers in saves and got the ball late more than just about anyone else on the staff.
The Salisbury, North Carolina native landed at Clemson last offseason after dominating at the D-II level for Catawba College. Over two years there, he became a first-team All-American under Jim Gantt, piling up 23 saves and 146 strikeouts in just 126.2 innings. The jump to the ACC didn’t slow him down — his stuff played against the best bats in college baseball.
A bullpen being rebuilt on the fly
Simmerson is the fourth notable Clemson arm to leave since the portal opened Monday morning, which leaves Bakich and his staff with real work to do on the pitching side.
Recent Clemson pitching departures:
- RHP Hayden Simmerson (top closer, 4 saves, 3.62 ERA)
- LHP Noah Samol (6-foot-7 lefty, 4.76 ERA in 2026)
- LHP Talan Bell (former top-35 national recruit, 13 appearances)
- RHP Peyton Miller (freshman bullpen arm, former IMG Academy prospect)
Bakich did land Sun Belt All-Freshman Bennett Edwards on day one, which helps. But the staff still has to go find ready-made arms to replace what Simmerson brought to the back end.
