Tigers facing loss of most talented pitcher

CLEMSON — Despite Clemson's season wilting to an end in the desert, an examination of the Tigers' lineup seemed to indicate a baseball future as luminous as midday in Arizona.

Matt Sanders was the lone senior in the Tempe Super Regional lineup, batting ninth in the order in the Tigers' 8-2 season-ending loss to the Sun Devils on Sunday night.

A sophomore (Casey Harman) and a freshman (Chris Dwyer) earned starts in Game 1 and 2 in baseball's Sweet 16, a place few thought the Tigers could advance after whiffing on the tournament last spring.

The Clemson lineup was left-handed heavy in the postseason, but also rich in underclassmen, featuring: Chris Epps (sophomore), Mike Freeman (junior), Jeff Schaus (sophomore), Ben Paulsen (junior) and Kyle Parker (sophomore).

But it is a young core that will likely be weakened beginning at 6 p.m. today when Major League Baseball's draft begins. The first round is televised on the MLB Network, followed by coverage on ESPN at 9 p.m.

Dwyer, a 21-year-old draft-eligible freshman, and Paulsen are both expected to be selected in the early rounds. Baseball America's Aaron Fitt believes Dwyer could go as early as the first supplemental round, which falls between the first and second rounds.

Last year, those supplemental picks received signing bonuses ranging from $1.1 million to $700,000.

"People have seen great stuff from (Dwyer),'' Fitt said "He can be 90-94 (mph).''

They saw some of that great stuff Sunday night, as Dwyer blanked the Sun Devils through four innings before being battered in the fifth, following a leg injury.

Dwyer's fastball hit 92 mph and Arizona State struggled with his sharp curve, fanning seven times in the first four innings. Such stuff coming from a 6-2 lefty is rare and no doubt intrigues major league teams.

Clemson pitching coach Kyle Bunn said he had a discussion earlier this season with Dwyer where the possibility of a one-and-done at Clemson was noted as a real possibility. Bunn went as far to say: "I think he is ready in some areas.''

While the Tigers could lose their most talented arm, they could also say good-bye to their top power bat.

According to Fitt, the 2009 class is regarded as pitching-heavy, which could boost Paulsen, the Tigers' cleanup hitter, into the draft's top three rounds.

The Tigers hope the lure of playing under his father, hitting coach, Tom Riginos, and a push to the College World Series next season beckon him back to campus.

"I'm just waiting to see what happens,'' Paulsen said of his draft stock. "I have not ruled out coming back at all.''

Only 10 players selected in the top-five round picks either did not sign or returned to school from the 2008 draft. Third-round signing bonuses ranged from $525,000 to $322,000 last season.

"There are not a lot of impact bats,'' Fitt said. "He's got a good pure hitting stroke.''

The possible attrition for Clemson doesn't end there.

The prize of the incoming recruiting class, highly regarded right-handed pitcher Madison Younginer, is also in jeopardy. Younginer touched 97 mph on radar guns as a prep star at Mauldin this spring. Some projections have him going as early as the first supplemental round.

Richie Schaffer, an infielder/right-handed pitcher out of North Carolina, is another top-50 high school prospect who could be selected in the early rounds.

Draftees have till Aug. 15 to sign, meaning more sleepless nights wait ahead for Jack Leggett and his staff, wondering if Tempe marked the beginning or the high-water mark of the Paulsen-Dwyer era.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks.