Jack Leggett hoping for breakthrough, step-up performances from veterans

The fact that Clemson is ranked 16th in Baseball America’s 2012 preseason poll is probably based less on a roster that’s overwhelmingly rich in experience than on a tradition of talent and success which has landed the Tigers in the preseason top-25 for 24 years, running.

And though his team lost more than a fair share of experienced contributors from 2011 (the productive bats and gloves of Will Lamb, Chris Epps, Jeff Schaus, Brad Miller, and John Hinson, and the veteran arms of pitchers Justin Sarratt and Scott Weismann), Coach Jack Leggett can still complement an abundance of second and first-year players with a solid if compact unit of seniors and juniors.

Featured valuably among that group of upperclassmen - which includes a graduate-student transfer from the Citadel (Brad Felder), three seniors, five juniors, and three redshirt juniors - are two All-ACC performers from last season in senior Phil Pohl (utility) and junior Richie Shaffer (infield).

“We‘ve got some experienced guys that I think are really going to help us,” said Leggett. “Some of them have been waiting their turn, and, hopefully, they‘ll be able to showcase what they‘re capable of doing.”

Pivotally, much of that experience will appear on the mound, where senior David Haselden will be joined by fellow right-handers Kevin Brady (redshirt junior), Scott Firth (junior), Dominic Leone (junior) and Jonathan Meyer (junior), along with left-hander Joseph Moorefield (redshirt junior).

“We’re excited about what David Haselden’s capable of doing for us as a pitcher this year,” said Leggett. “He’s kind of been working in a relief role, spot-start role, and that kind of thing. Joseph Moorefield continues to keep on working and getting better.

“Kevin Brady is coming back for his final year, and is a Friday night-type guy. Along with Dominic Leone, we feel like that we have two guys right there that are really prominent pitchers. Scott Firth is coming off a real good summer, playing in the Cape Cod league. He was an All-Star in the Cape, so we see some good things out of him.

“I also like the fact that we have some experience in Jonathan Meyer. Hopefully, he’ll come back and have a real good junior year for us.”

In the outfield, redshirt junior Thomas Brittle will enhance Leggett’s options after transferring from the College of Charleston and sitting-out last season.

In the infield, and besides Shaffer - who’ll get a long look at third base in order to accommodate sophomore Jon McGibbon’s development at first - the Tigers will have benefit of senior shortstop Jason Stolz. Also, junior Spencer Kieboom returns behind the plate, as does the versatile Pohl, who can also be used in both the infield and the outfield.

“With the other older returning guys, behind the plate you’ve got Spencer Kieboom, who’s one of the better catchers in the country, along with Phil Pohl,” said Leggett. “I’ve got a great deal of confidence in both of them. They’re both great leaders for us, and good offensive players.

“Phil continues to keep improving, and Spencer is a year better, in my opinion, than he was last year. Offensively, I can already see that happening out there

“Then in the infield, Richie Shaffer’s going to be one of the better players in the country at his position. We’re going to play him over at third-base, as much as possible this year: moving him from first to third so that we can get McGibbon in there at first.

Also, Jason Stolz is going to be a real solid performer for us at shortstop, and if we can get him to bump his game up offensively, that’ll be a real big help for us.”