Edrington Headed To Clemson As A Two-Way Player

MASON - Few players have risen up the PBR rankings like Andrew Edrington and colleges took notice, especially after an impressive performance at the Future Games a little more than a month ago.

The 115th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in the nation topped out at 92 on the mound during his two innings of work for Team Ohio. The Cincinnati Princeton junior middle infielder also stood out in the field with spectacular plays at both shortstop and second base during the four-day event.

“It is likely that Edrington continues as a two-way player moving forward, and it is easy to envision him getting key outs late in games at the next level,” noted Shooter Hunt, PBR vice president of scouting, who included the 379th-ranked junior in the country in his list of 18 pitching standouts in the class of 2023 at the Future Games.

“His first inning of work on the bump and the defense he played was electric, a prospect I will be keeping an eye on,” added PBR Ohio scout Dylan Hefflinger, who had Edrington on his Heff’s Hits Elite 25 list for his showing at the prestigious event in Lakepoint, Ga.

The recognition also came from college coaches, with schools like Kentucky, Purdue, Cincinnati, Campbell and Kent State enamoured with the eighth-rated junior in Ohio. But in the end it was Clemson that received a commitment from the 6-1 163-pound RHP/MIF.

“During the Future Games they sought me out when I was pitching the first game for Team Ohio,” Edrington noted. “I pitched okay for two innings and after that made a couple nice plays in the field and Andrew See (Clemson assistant coach) reached out. He talked about how athletic I looked on the mound and then when I made plays at second he said he was amazed and had to reach out.”

The recruiting process continued with phone calls before offers started to roll in.

“Clemson was always the top school for me,” related Edrington, who narrowed his list down to Cincinnati, Kentucky and Clemson before making his final decision. “The second I heard from them I was ready. When they gave me an offer I talked it over with all of my coaches. I reached out to everyone I know with baseball and overwhelmingly I got Clemson as the best fit.

“First off it’s Clemson,” Edrington added about what made the Atlantic Coast Conference school in South Carolina his top choice. “Just the name stands out. You’re playing down south and you’re playing ACC baseball. Playing in the ACC or the SEC ... there’s nothing that compares with the competitive level.”

The number two-ranked 2023 RHP in Ohio gave a glimpse of his promise in his time on the mound at the Future Games.

“I looked at the scoreboard and it said 91.9,” reflected Edrington back to his first inning of work. “It was amazing. My next pitch was 92. My previous best was 91 and over the summer I hit 90 one or two times. I knew after I hit 92 I’d get more looks.”

Not only looks and raves from scouts, but offers from an outstanding group of universities.

“Pro baseball is every kids’ dream but before that you’ve got to go to college,” Edrington said. “This past year it’s become a reality. Before that it was just a dream.”

But hard work helped make it happen for the 16-year-old, who credited his high school coach Andrew DePeel and summer coaches Scott Stocker and Marcus Davis for their guidance and support throughout the process.

“It took a lot of determination,” Edrington noted. “This past year I put in tons of work, more than ever with lifting and a throwing program with coach Stocker. After the first week with him I gained three miles an hour from 84-87, I had the work ethic to push me to be who I am now.”

It was far from easy according to the 4.0 student who is uncertain about a college major.

“It was pretty stressful ... the whole recruiting process,” Edrington admitted. “When you first start receiving calls it’s exciting, but once you get down the road the pressure of making a decision and being ready to compete is stressful. It was exciting talking with all the colleges and the offers, but I was relieved when it was over.”

The chance to play in the ACC as a pitcher and middle infielder only added to the excitement of being committed.

“I’m going to Clemson as a two-way but down the road I’m sure it will be one-way,” Edrington explained. “Pitching and defense have always been ahead for me, so the goal was to go as a two-way. I’ve always been a middle infielder and that’s where my true love is. I like to pitch, but fielding and hitting I love the most.”

With a commitment now official, Edrington understands the challenge ahead.

“I still have tons more work to do,” Edrington said. “I want to reach the end goal which is to play pro baseball. But to know I’m going to play ACC baseball at a school like Clemson means a lot. Looking back to a year ago, I couldn’t have imagined this. It’s amazing how far I’ve come and what I’ve accomplished.”