Harbin Returns to Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. – Former Tiger middle infielder Taylor Harbin was added to the Tiger staff as a student assistant coach, announced Wednesday by Head Coach Jack Leggett. Harbin was a three-year letterman (2005-07) at Clemson and played eight seasons in the minors.

“We are very excited to have Taylor return to Clemson to join our staff as a student assistant coach,” said Leggett of Harbin, who is taking classes in parks, recreation & tourism management towards earning his degree. “He was a tremendously hard worker as a player here at Clemson and will be able to pass on his knowlege and experiences to our players. He knows our program and what we’re all about and we couldn’t be happier for him to be here with us.”

The Travelers Rest, S.C. native showed good power at the plate during his three seasons. He was a career .320 hitter with 67 doubles, 30 home runs, 172 RBIs and 31 steals in 194 games (193 starts).

As a freshman in 2005, Harbin burst onto the scene as a second-team All-American, becoming the first Tiger freshman to be named to an All-America first, second or third team in Clemson history. He was also a first-team freshman All-American and First-Team All-ACC selection who batted .343 with 28 doubles, four triples, 10 homers and 63 RBIs.

After hitting .319 with 20 doubles, nine homers and 47 RBIs as a sophomore in 2006 in leading Clemson to the College World Series, Harbin earned All-ACC honors for the second time in 2007. He hit .296 with 19 doubles, 11 homers and 62 RBIs as a team co-captain, then was drafted in the eighth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks after the season.

Harbin played almost his entire minor league career in the Diamondbacks’ organization, reaching as high as Triple-A. He also played for Sugar Land (Texas) in the Atlantic (Independent) League in 2014. In 890 career games over eight seasons in the minors, he batted .267 with 891 hits, 206 doubles, 22 triples, 62 homers, 427 RBIs and 38 steals.

Harbin, born Feb. 13, 1986, is married to the former Jennifer Mullinnix of Greenville, S.C. The couple is expecting their first child in December.