Career Stats
Righthander who was used in long relief and as a setup man … had one of the hardest fastballs on the team after changing from his sidearm delivery in 2013 to a three-quarters slot in 2014, but an injury diminished his speed in 2015 … in 53.0 innings pitched over 52 relief appearances and four seasons, he had a 1-1 record, one save and a 5.43 ERA while allowing 60 hits (.291 opponents’ batting average), one homer and 29 walks with 35 strikeouts … three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll member … three-time winner of the Omaha Challenge competition among pitchers.
2015: Had an 0-0 record and a 17.18 ERA in six relief appearances … in 3.2 innings pitched, he allowed nine hits (.529 opponents’ batting average) and three walks with two strikeouts … held opponents to 0-for-4 with the bases empty … pitched 1.1 perfect innings in relief against North Carolina on April 5.
2014: Had an 0-1 record, one save and a 4.11 ERA in 27 relief appearances … in 30.2 innings pitched, he allowed 29 hits (.248 opponents’ batting average), five extra-base hits and 18 walks with 26 strikeouts … held opponents to a .173 batting average with the bases empty … had 45 groundball outs compared to only 16 flyball outs … pitched 2.1 innings in relief, allowing one hit, no runs and no walks with two strikeouts against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 14 … pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 16 … pitched 1.2 innings in relief, allowing no hits, no runs and no walks with two strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader at Wake Forest on March 15 … pitched a hitless and scoreless inning in relief at No. 2 Virginia on April 11 … pitched 2.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs with four strikeouts to record his first career save against Coastal Carolina on April 15 … pitched 1.1 perfect innings in relief with a strikeout against Boston College on May 17.
2013: ACC Academic Honor Roll member … member of Clemson’s All-Academic team for having the team’s highest GPA … had a 1-0 record and a 3.60 ERA in 10 relief appearances … in 10.0 innings pitched, he allowed nine hits (.257 opponents’ batting average) and six walks with four strikeouts … held opponents to 2-for-17 (.118) with runners on base and 1-for-11 (.091) with runners in scoring position … in 4.1 innings pitched over his last four relief appearances, he allowed two hits, no runs and one walk with one strikeout … pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief to earn his first career win against William & Mary on Feb. 15 … retired the only batter he faced in relief against Western Carolina on April 24 … pitched a hitless and scoreless ninth inning in relief against Maryland on May 4 … pitched 2.0 innings in relief, allowing one hit, no runs and no walks with one strikeout in the first game of a doubleheader at Furman on May 8 … pitched a scoreless ninth inning against Georgia Southern on May 10 … won the Omaha Challenge competition among pitchers in the fall of 2012.
2012: ACC Academic Honor Roll member … had an 0-0 record and a 7.27 ERA in nine relief appearances … in 8.2 innings pitched, he allowed 13 hits (.351 opponents’ batting average), including no homers and two walks with three strikeouts … had 19 groundball outs compared to only three flyball outs … had a 1.93 ERA and .133 opponents’ batting average along with three strikeouts against no walks in 4.2 innings pitched over three relief appearances in night games … in 3.1 innings pitched over three relief appearances against NCAA Tournament teams, he allowed one hit and no runs … had a 3.38 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched after the seventh inning … pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the first game of a doubleheader against UAB on Feb. 18; it was his first career appearance … pitched 1.2 hitless and scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts against no walks against Georgia on April 11 … retired all six batters he faced to close out the game against College of Charleston on May 6 … won the Omaha Challenge competition among pitchers in the fall of 2011 … played for Oneonta in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League in the summer, where he was 2-0 with three saves, a 3.43 ERA and .227 opponents’ batting average in 21.0 innings pitched over 14 relief appearances.
2011: Redshirted … ACC Academic Honor Roll member … won the Omaha Challenge competition among pitchers in the fall of 2010 … played for Pineville in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League in the summer, where he was 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched over nine appearances (seven starts); allowed 26 hits (.248 opponents’ batting average) and no homers.
Before Clemson: All-region and all-area selection as a senior at Northwestern High School … won the team’s Best Pitcher Award as a senior … won the team’s Hustle Award as a sophomore … member of the region champions as a sophomore, junior and senior … member of the district champions as a senior … lettered three times in baseball at Northwestern High, where he was coached by Mitch Walters.
Personal: Graduated May 9, 2014 with a degree in health science … born John Clayton Bates on Feb. 4, 1992 in Charlotte, N.C.