Top Clemson baseball hitter among 8 Tigers entering transfer portal
One of Clemson baseball’s best players is entering the transfer portal. He’s joined by at least seven others.
Tigers starting outfielder and 2026 hits leader Nate Savoie will enter the portal, a team source confirmed to The State on Monday.
Savoie transferred to Clemson after one season at Loyola Marymount University and made an instant impact for the Tigers and coach Erik Bakich this year.
The California native was one of only two players to play and start all 57 games for Clemson (Tyler Lichtenberger was the other), and he was one of the team’s top hitters. Savoie’s .329 batting average was second on the team to Jarren Purify (who was limited to 40 games because of injury), and he led the team with 75 hits.
Savoie also led Clemson in runs scored (52), runs batted in (52), total bases (136) and slugging percentage (.596). His 16 home runs and 13 doubles were second on the team, and he was a third-team All-ACC pick at outfielder.
Savoie’s transfer was first reported Sunday night by College Baseball Central.
Some attrition was expected after Clemson baseball finished the season 31-26 and 10-20 in the ACC, missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Bakich and the third time in the past six seasons overall.
But Savoie (who also plays catcher) was considered one of Clemson’s top retention targets, considering he’s a rising junior and has one more year of college eligibility before he’s eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft.
More Clemson baseball players in transfer portal
The NCAA transfer portal window for college baseball formally opened Monday and runs through June 30. Players must enter the portal in that 30-day window, but they can commit to a school at any point once they’ve entered.
The following Clemson baseball players are also transferring, per various reports from College Baseball Central and The Clemson Insider:
- LHP Noah Samol
- INF Jay Dillard
- RHP Peyton Miller
- OF/INF Bryce Clavon
- INF Collin Priest
- INF Jason Fultz Jr.
- LHP/OF Talan Bell
Tigers’ first transfer commit an SC native
As Clemson players hit the portal Monday, Bakich and the Tigers picked up their first transfer commitment. He’s a player with local ties.
Former Georgia Southern catcher Bennett Edwards announced a commitment to Clemson via social media. Edwards is a native of Laurens, South Carolina roughly 75 minutes from Clemson and was a 2026 Sun Belt All-Freshman Team pick.
Edwards started at catcher for GSU and was the team’s leadoff batter, hitting .287 and recording 50 hits. He was also listed as an outfielder on the Eagles’ roster.
“I’m blessed to announce that I will be pursuing my dream of playing baseball at Clemson University,” Edwards wrote on X. “I’m so grateful for the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity!”
This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Top Clemson baseball hitter among 8 Tigers entering transfer portal."
