Tennessee baseball adds Clemson transfer pitcher Hayden Simmerson
Tennessee baseball adds Clemson transfer pitcher Hayden SimmersonEmmett Siegel, Knoxville News SentinelThu, Jul 9, 2026·1 min read
Tennessee baseball landed Clemson transfer Hayden Simmerson, a right-handed pitcher who will be a senior next season and is eligible for this year's MLB draft, according to multiple reports on July 9.
As one of Clemson's top relievers, Simmerson went 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA and four saves as a junior in 2026. He struck out 46 and walked 11 in 32.1 innings with a 0.90 WHIP.
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Before transferring to Clemson ahead of the 2026 season, Simmerson spent two years at Catawba, where he was a Division II All-American in 2025. In his two seasons there he went 6-5 with a 3.48 ERA, totaling 23 saves and 146 strikeouts in 126.2 innings pitched.
Tennessee's Blake Grimmer (14) rounds third base towards home plate during an NCAA college baseball game against Texas in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 8, 2026. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)Wright State’s Andrew Duncan (14) celebrates running home safely during a baseball game between Tennessee and Wright State in Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, March 6, 2026. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)Tennessee pitcher Cam Appenzeller (19) throws the ball during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)Texas Tech's infielder Travis Sanders (14) throws the ball to first base against Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference baseball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Rip Griffin Park. (Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal)Tennessee catcher Trent Grindlinger (30) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)Parker Detmers
Junior
RHP
R/R
Chatham, Illinois
Glenwood (Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics)Tennessee's Landon Mack (18) pumps his fist during a college baseball game between Tennessee and LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee., on April 3, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)Mar 1, 2025; Greenville, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks pitcher Jake McCoy (23) reacts after striking out a batter against the Clemson Tigers during the top of the fourth inning at Fluor Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images (Ken Ruinard, Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)Tennessee's Levi Clark (16) gets to second base after hitting a double against Texas in an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)UC Irvine's Ricky Ojeda pitches against Texas Tech during a non-conference Division I baseball game, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at Dan Law Field. (Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal, Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Tennessee's Blaine Brown (1) catches the ball during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)Tennessee catcher Stone Lawless (27) signals during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026c (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)Tennessee's Will Haas (42) pitches against Texas during an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)Tennessee's Chandler Day (48) pitches against Texas in an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel, Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)Tennessee's Tyler Myatt (20) bats during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)Tennessee pitcher Brady Frederick (6) pitches during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)1 / 16
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Tennessee's Blake Grimmer (14) rounds third base towards home plate during an NCAA college baseball game against Texas in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 8, 2026. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Wright State’s Andrew Duncan (14) celebrates running home safely during a baseball game between Tennessee and Wright State in Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, March 6, 2026. (Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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Tennessee pitcher Cam Appenzeller (19) throws the ball during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Texas Tech's infielder Travis Sanders (14) throws the ball to first base against Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference baseball game, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Rip Griffin Park. (Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal)
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Tennessee catcher Trent Grindlinger (30) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Tennessee's Landon Mack (18) pumps his fist during a college baseball game between Tennessee and LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee., on April 3, 2026. (Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Mar 1, 2025; Greenville, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks pitcher Jake McCoy (23) reacts after striking out a batter against the Clemson Tigers during the top of the fourth inning at Fluor Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images (Ken Ruinard, Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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Tennessee's Levi Clark (16) gets to second base after hitting a double against Texas in an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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UC Irvine's Ricky Ojeda pitches against Texas Tech during a non-conference Division I baseball game, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at Dan Law Field. (Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal, Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Tennessee baseball 2027 roster for Vols in Josh Elander's second season
Tennessee's Blaine Brown (1) catches the ball during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
Tennessee baseball 2027 roster for Vols in Josh Elander's second season
Tennessee catcher Stone Lawless (27) signals during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026c (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Tennessee's Will Haas (42) pitches against Texas during an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Tennessee's Chandler Day (48) pitches against Texas in an NCAA college baseball game on May 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Saul Young/News Sentinel, Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Tennessee's Tyler Myatt (20) bats during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Tennessee pitcher Brady Frederick (6) pitches during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
Simmerson is Tennessee's 10th transfer addition this offseason and sixth pitcher, joining Parker Detmers (Louisville), Jake McCoy (South Carolina), Ricky Ojeda (UC Irvine), Brody Trosclair (Northwestern State) and two-way player Braydon Kersey (Mercer).