Blake Wright had 36 at-bats in his freshman year at Clemson in 2021. The lack of playing time was initially difficult for the first-year infielder. But looking back, Wright believes it allowed him to learn the college game and set him up for a notable sophomore season.
Last season, he was Clemson’s starting second baseman and performed at a high level offensively, hitting .349 with 11 home runs in 166 at-bats in 44 games.
Wright hopes to build off his sophomore season this spring. This spring will come with high expectations for Wright, who has missed the fall season with a minor wrist injury. Talent evaluators consider the junior infielder as a potential first- or second-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft.
“It has definitely been a fun process,” Wright said. “To be honest, I just come to the field and try to get better each and every day. I try not to look forward at all. Now we are in my junior year, which is exciting. But I can’t get ahead of myself, and I have to just be great where my feet are.”
Wright is a 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitter who can hit for average and power. He projects as an above-average hitter in pro ball. He also displays notable plate discipline, as he rarely chases pitches out of the strike zone. Last season, he had 23 strikeouts compared to 14 walks.
“I can battle against Friday night guys,” Wright said. “My hitting tool is my biggest strength. My hustle factor is also big. I can move on from one at-bat to the next. That is something I worked on with my process and mindset.”
Defensively, Wright played shortstop in high school. He bounced around the infield in his first two years of college. He played 10 games at third base and one game at shortstop as a freshman and then was Clemson’s starting second baseman last year.
Wright doesn’t know what position he will play this spring. But he is confident in his ability to play second base, shortstop and third base. He has good arm strength and athleticism but likely profiles best as a second or third baseman long-term.
“I am comfortable at all three infield positions,” Wright said. “I have experience at all three spots. It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m fine with any spot and comfortable with all of them.”
In his first two years at Clemson, Wright posted a .317 average with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 202 at-bats. This season, he will serve as a key bat in the middle of Clemson’s lineup.
The Tigers have a new coaching staff this season after they hired former Michigan coach Erik Bakich for the same role in the offseason. Bakich has brought a winning mindset to Clemson and prioritized building a team-oriented culture, Wright said. Bakich led Michigan to five NCAA tournament appearances in the last seven postseasons, including a runner-up finish in 2019.
This season, the Tigers are seeking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019. They also hope to advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, for the first time since 2010.
“I want to keep pushing to get our team to Omaha,” Wright said. “I want to do everything I can to help our team win. We haven’t won the last two years, so it would be great to win this year.”
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Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for eight years. He has interviewed 433 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
