Tigers eye Brady as potential ace on field

CLEMSON -- Clemson's baseball season ended on its home field last spring, upset by Connecticut in regional play. But the chances of returning to Omaha were really damaged months earlier when burgeoning ace Kevin Brady felt tightness in his right forearm while warming up before the fifth inning against South Carolina.

Against the defending national champions, Brady had allowed only one run over four innings: the lone damage of a Jackie Bradley Jr. opposite field home run. After Bradley rounded the bases, Clemson coach Jack Leggett asked umpires to inspect Bradley's bat, thereby beginning the "bat gate" controversy.

Brady cruised after allowing the home run before leaving the game after several warm-up tosses before the fifth inning. He threw just seven innings the rest of the season. Clemson was forced to proceed without Brady's pinpoint control of his mid-90s mph fastball, rare command and velocity that produced a 33-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio more than 23 innings last season.

If Brady had thrown 40 innings to qualify, he would have likely posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in Clemson history.

While No. 16 Clemson prepares to open its season at 4 p.m. Friday against UAB, having lost its entire starting outfield and ACC Player of the Year Brad Miller, Clemson enters with a potential ace in Brady, who could be the program's best right-handed arm since Daniel Moskos and perhaps since Kris Benson, both of whom were top-five selections in the Major League Baseball draft.

"When he was good last year for us, he was really good," Leggett said. "We've got to keep him healthy, and it's important he has a great year for us. It's important he just relaxes and comes out and plays. He's very focused. He's in great shape. I'm excited about what he is going to lend to our team." Brady threw pain-free in fall workouts, his heavy fastball topping out at 96 mph."

His performance in the fall was critical as Brady said his arm has "tightened" up again this summer when he tried to pitch in the Cape Cod League. Brady said he feels 100 percent this spring.

"I've been throwing bullpens, and it has felt good," Brady said. "I took time off over the summer to let everything heal. ... I'm just ready to get back out there."

Brady thinks last spring's setback might have been a blessing disguised as a season-limiting injury, one that did not require surgery. The junior said there was no ligament damage to his right arm, that the injury was simply muscular in nature.

"It was unfortunate, but it could have been the best thing for me," Bradysaid. "It's given me another year to mature."

The injury might also have helped Clemson this spring.

Brady was drafted in the 17th round by the Cleveland Indians last June and might have been drafted higher, and signed, had he been completely healthy.

A healthy Brady joins Dominic Leone, who pitched like an ace at times last season finishing with a 6-2 record and 72 strikeouts and 27 walks in 66 innings, Scott Firth (5-1, 3.06 ERA), Jon Meyer (5-2, 3.31 ERA) and power-arm freshman Daniel Gossett as potential difference-making arms in 2012.

"I think our pitching has a chance to be one or our strong suits," Leggett said. "I'm excited about what we have a chance to do on the mound."