​The list of Clemson baseball players leaving for the SEC continues to grow, as transfer portal departures head to the conference with increasing frequency. On Thursday, former Tigers reliever Hayden Simmerson revealed that he will continue his college career at Tennessee. If he returns to school, this move would provide the Volunteers with an experienced bullpen arm who still has one season of eligibility remaining.
Simmerson joined Clemson after establishing himself at Division II powerhouse Catawba, where he quickly carved out a significant role in the Tigers’ bullpen. During his inaugural season with Clemson, he appeared in 19 games—the second-most among Clemson pitchers—and recorded four saves, a 3.62 ERA, and a 1-2 record. His performance stood out for his ability to limit hard contact; opponents hit just .158 off him. Across 32.1 innings, he struck out 46 batters while walking only 11, resulting in an impressive 0.90 WHIP.
Before making the jump to the ACC, Simmerson had already built a strong résumé at Catawba. In two seasons there, he earned all-conference honors twice, accumulated 23 saves, and posted a 3.48 ERA. He totaled 146 strikeouts in 126.2 innings across 57 appearances, establishing himself as one of the premier relief pitchers at the Division II level.
Simmerson is now the third former Clemson player to announce a transfer to an SEC program this offseason. Infielder Jason Fultz Jr. is set to join Ole Miss, while catcher/outfielder Nate Savoie has committed to Texas A&M. It’s not guaranteed that Simmerson will end up in Knoxville, though. The Salisbury, North Carolina native is eligible for this weekend’s MLB Draft, which could open the door for him to begin a professional career rather than returning for another college season.
As Clemson fans track the evolving landscape, the program continues to see its alumni pursue opportunities across the SEC. For more Clemson Tigers coverage, follow @Clemson_Wire on X and like the Clemson Wire page on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire.