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Clemson head coach Erik Bakich has been one of college baseball’s best over the last few seasons. Since taking over for the Tigers in 2023, he’s won more than 70% of his games.
That success has many interested in his program, prospective transfer players included. With that being said, he refuses to offer a roster spot to everyone – even those that may provide immediate upgrades in the lineup.
Bakich was hired by the Tigers after stops at Michigan and Maryland. He’s found instant success in Clemson.
Despite taking over a program that had failed to make the postseason in two consecutive campaigns, he’s shined. The Tigers are fresh off their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. They’ve won 44 games or more in each of Bakich’s three years.
Success is expected to continue in 2026.
Erik Bakich has Clemson baseball rolling.
He’s been able to buoy success into recruiting wins. The Tigers landed a Top 30 class in 2025. It’s positioned for a Top 15 cycle in 2026, already having pledges from three Top 100 players.
Bakich has had no issue securing high school talent. He is, however, a bit pickier with incoming transfers. There are multiple reasons as to why.
NIL has become a major recruiting tool across all major sports, including college baseball. Coaches have decisions to make on where to spend their recruiting dollars.
Some opt to pay transfer talent in the portal. Bakich is loyal to his current players.
Erik Bakich said Clemson decided to not offer a couple of top pitching transfers this offseason because they wanted to be paid more NIL than anyone on the roster.
He explains why he told them “adios”: pic.twitter.com/7h5oQ3uHcL
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) October 21, 2025
“This may be right, wrong, or indifferent,” he said of his refusal to overspend. “I refuse to give a new player more money… [Someone] who hasn’t played one pitch of Clemson baseball and is demanding more than anyone else on the team, we’ll say, ‘Adios,’ to that player 100% of the time.
“We’re just not going to do that.”
Budget may have some impact on that outlook. Culture plays a larger role.
Bakich will not pay more money to a transfer than to his current team members. He does not want to create unnecessary drama in his clubhouse.
Bakich referenced a few transfer pitchers in his explanation. Despite pitching being considered a weakness on his most recent team, he would not overspend on arms.
“Decided not to offer them because they just weren’t a culture fit,” he said. “That was a little bit of a risky decision — but personally, philosophically, we’re not gonna win a bidding war and potentially lose the locker room.”
Dabo Swinney would be proud.
The Clemson football coach has taken a similar approach to the transfer portal. He prefers to build through the high school ranks.
He rewards loyalty, though some might say to his detriment.
The Tigers have slipped in terms of production over the last few seasons. Many attribute it to Swinney’s refusal to utilize the portal, though recent coaching turnover might play just as large a role.
There are some Clemson baseball fans that believe Erik Bakich is making the same mistake. They suggest that paying for top talent is the easiest way to win, and those that don’t will fall behind.
Others, however, have celebrated the coach’s decision. Culture is important, as is continuity.
As we’ve seen at football stops like Florida State, quick transfer portal additions do not always provide success. The NIL price tag comes win or lose.
Bakich will not budge on his portal opinion. We’ll soon see how it pays off.