Clemson baseball starting pitcher announces transfer to SEC rival

Billy Barlow, a former starting pitcher for the Clemson Tigers, announced on social media earlier this week that he was transferring to Florida.

It’s a particularly painful decision for Clemson, as the Tigers fell to Florida in the NCAA Super Regionals, while the Tigers failed to return to the College World Series.

Barlow, a right-hander from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had just completed his redshirt sophomore season with the Tigers and excelled in a starting role during the non-conference before sliding into a primary relief role in the action of the ACC.

He went 6-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) for the Tigers, striking out 42 batters and allowing 20 walks in 48.1 innings.

He didn’t start in the Florida Series, but he pitched 0.2 innings in a relief appearance, walking two and striking out one without giving up a hit.

He won four of his first six starts of the season, pitching five innings in each of those victories and never allowing more than two earned runs.

He had two ACC wins – one against Georgia Tech on May 5 and one against Boston College on May 17. He earned both of those wins in relief.

Barlow had a chance to play a full weekend role with the Tigers next season. He’ll try to do that with the Gators in 2025.

Barlow carved out a weekday starting role as a true freshman in 2022, as he went 2-4 with a 4.84 ERA in 17 games, including 15 starts. He struck out 57 and walked 22 in 57.1 innings. He hoped to build on that in 2023, but an injury only allowed him to pitch in three games, with one start, before being ruled out for the reason and taking a redshirt.

Since the end of their season, the Tigers have been looking for new talent. That includes Luke Gaffney, the Big Ten’s top freshman of the year, who was at Purdue last season and set six Boilermakers freshman records after posting a .349/.437/.628 average with 13 home runs and 65 RBI.

Michigan infielder Collin Priest also committed to Clemson after being selected All-Big Ten Freshman after hitting .279/.445/.578 and hitting a freshman record for the Wolverines, 11 home runs.

Clemson also signed Indiana State outfielder Dominic Listi, an All-MVC selection who hit .324 last season.

Clemson shortstop Andrew Cuifo also announced he will return in 2025 after missing half of last season due to injury.

Clemson went 44-16 this season and won the ACC Atlantic Division title. The Tigers were the sixth seed in the nation and reached the Super Regionals for the first time since 2010.