By looking at Tony Sipp’s Clemson career, you never would have guessed he would go on to an 11-year Major League career that featured 616 career appearances, 137 more than any other former Tiger pitcher.
Sipp played at Clemson during the 2004 season and was an everyday player who dabbled in pitching. He had a .280 batting average as a hitter and a 4.69 ERA and 2-2 record in 48.0 innings pitched on the mound. But one stat stood out to scouts. He had 59 strikeouts against only 17 walks in those 48 innings.
Sipp was taken in the 45th round, and it took six years before he made it to the show, but he became one of the top middle relief pitchers in the majors. He had 531 strikeouts against 221 walks in 503.2 innings pitched. He is sixth in strikeouts and innings pitched among former Clemson pitchers in the majors during his career that included stints with Houston, Cleveland, Arizona and Washington.
He finished his career in style, pitching 35 games for the World Series champion Washington Nationals.
