2025 roster projection

Clemson redshirt sophomore right-hander Billy Barlow has announced his entry into the transfer portal.

The 2024 team captain went 6-1 with a 4.28 ERA over 15 appearances this season, totaling 42 strikeouts to 20 walks.

The North Myrtle Beach product played a role as a midweek starter and reliever for much of the season, last appearing in Sunday's season finale versus Florida (0.2 innings pitched/1 strikeout/2 walks).

He posted a message to Clemson late Tuesday night.

"Thank you Clemson friends and fans for the years I have spent here. You are the best and I will never forget you. I have decided to enter the transfer portal. Much love!" Barlow said.

Barlow made a career-high 17 appearances as a freshman, going 2-4 with a 4.84 ERA. He took a medical redshirt in the 2023 season.

 

Like this addition.....should fill that Jameson role of long relief/midweek starter

 

I was hoping for a second arm from the portal that could fill multiple roles and this seems to be a good fit. Whether either of our two portal arms can turn pro or not, they give us a chance to grow the options Sully has for next year.

 

Some team is going to see the potential that we never saw on the field and draft him in a position where it will be a tough decision for him.

 

It would be interesting to hear what Cade would have to say about his excellent freshman year and what he perceices happened this past year. Hate to see him go, as he has a lot of talent and potential.

 

Definitely one lefty needed.

 

One can argue (meaning I can argue) this tidbit fits with the 2025 roster discussion.

D1Baseball has started the talking season with their writers' guesses for the 2025 CWS teams. I see the lists as a combination of each writer's recognition of the top programs and their favorites among lesser programs that allow them to claim top analysis skills if the teams luck out and get in. Ten writers made predictions, no seeding, just eight teams from each writer. The list is the number of writers who picked each program to make the 2025 CWS.

THE [WAY TOO EARLY] COUNT
10 – LSU
9 – Florida
7 – Clemson • Texas A&M
6 – Florida State • Tennessee
4 – Arkansas • North Carolina
3 – Duke • Stanford • UC Santa Barbara
2 – Georgia • Kentucky • Oklahoma State • Oregon • TCU • Virginia
1 – Arizona • East Carolina • Mississippi State • NC State • Oklahoma • Vanderbilt​

While some posters consider Gator baseball to have horrible players and incompetent coaches, national media recognize Gators- and LSU- as locks for the CWS year in and year out. BTW fans can do their part in keeping the Gators at such a high level by making NIL contributions.

 

@TheBoss —

Again you have valid points throughout your post. I especially like the one “THE [WAY TOO EARLY] COUNT….

 

Sully just a heck of a coach. Something that I think may get overlooked is that he truly knows how to run an entire operation. He gets:
Strength and Conditioning
Practice regimen
Development
Rest needed
Game prep
Game day coaching
Recruiting
Portal/transfer opportunities
How to put together a roster

He gets all phases better than any other coach in the country.

 

We have lots of holes to fill on the bump and in the line-up. We shouldn't be a consensus Omaha team next season. But we will be by the press preseason.

But baseball is a cool game where anything can happen and you just need to take advantage of the breaks that you get. And even then it can only tilt the odds in your favor.

 

That was said frequently on this board this past May. My inclination is to agree with you, but the fact is, Sully usually gets them there, so I'll fight my inclination. About 40 years ago, I established a personal rule, Never feel bad about the Gators losing before they actually lose. That has proven to help my overall mental health very nicely.

 

I hope he is given a shot as a weekend starter. All are wide open

 

We need a Catcher, none of the incoming freshman are listed as catchers. We only have Donay and Heyman back right?

 

Two of the incoming have played catcher, one of them even was a catcher at a senior showcase and got good reviews for his catching skill. Kolt Myers from St Augustine was one and Brock Clayton from Gulf Breeze was the other.. But if Sully doesn't think they are coming here to catch then he will probably pull one in from somewhere.

 

So what's the lineup look like right now? Evans and Shelton should return.

Cyr (LF), Jones (CF), Evans (RF)
Stripling/Nadeau (1B), Kurland (2B), Shelton (SS), ? (3B)
C/DH - Heyman, Donay

I guess 3B is the big question. Can Nadeau play there? Saw he played 2B/1B at JU. What about Ashton Wilson? I heard he played infield before he transferred here. Any freshman an option?

Seems like a solid lineup. The OF looks great. Hopefully, the returning guys show improvement.

 

Evans played some infield also I thought, I know he played some second this year when kurland was hurt. And I think I read he has always wanted to be a infielder

 

I would be amazed if Stripling starts next year. Not saying he doesn’t have potential, but none of his numbers stick out to me like our other transfers and returning players. I think it will be Nadeau and Wilson at the corners.