Re: TNET: Former Clemson player announces SEC portal commitment

Dynasty Maker [3218]

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I actually agree with this

Jun 14, 2025, 9:15 PM [ in reply to Re: TNET: Former Clemson player announces SEC portal commitment ]

I don't mean to knock the guy, but I've never understood the obsession for Crighton. I'm generally not in favor of playing corner outfielders and first basemen who don't have good power. Or respectable power at the very least. Jack has virtually none; he's got 1 career home run. (To his credit, it came at a great time.) Now, there are some caveats to that philosophy. If he were an elite contact hitter with a batting average in the 400's, or even the mid-to-high 350's, I'd be totally fine with it. It's not all about homers, and those types of players often get a lot of doubles and bring great speed and defense. But Crighton doesn't really have that, either.

In his 3 years here, his batting averages have gone .239, .313, .287. His extra-base hit totals have gone 3, 8, 9. His highest OPS is .768 from the '24 season. Just to put that into perspective, Paino's was .780 this year. Ciufo's was .795. Even among this year's lineup, Jack's OPS was only 9th-best on the team among players with at least 100 plate appearances. If he were an elite defensive center fielder or middle infielder, I'd understand it more. But I don't see how that type of bat is a fit for corner outfield or first base. He's a mediocre contact hitter with almost no power whatsoever. His defense and speed are good, but not elite.

To his credit, as others have mentioned, his defensive versatility is nice. I think he would be great as a bench piece or a super utility guy to fill in as needed for injury, rest, or underperformance. But to be blunt, I don't think his bat is good enough to be a starting 1B, LF, RF, or DH at Clemson. In fairness, both Gaffney and Bissetta were worse than Crighton offensively this year, so it was probably more a matter of Bakich trying to find the least bad of some poor options. Bissetta and Gaffney were supposed to fill those rolls this year, but they badly underachieved.

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TNET: Former Clemson player announces SEC portal commitment

Enjoyed watching you at Clemson