Clemson commit signs MLB contract, will not join Tigers’ baseball program

Blake Bryant’s baseball future is officially in professional baseball, not at Clemson.

The longtime Tigers commitment has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks after being selected with the 31st overall pick in Competitive Balance Round A of the 2026 MLB Draft. Bryant agreed to a signing bonus worth $2.75 million, officially ending his commitment to Clemson after pledging to the program in December 2022.

Bryant established himself as one of the top high school pitchers in this year’s draft class. MLB.com ranked the Citizens Christian (Ga.) standout No. 61 overall before the draft, thanks to a combination of size, arm talent and long-term upside that made him one of the more intriguing prep arms available.

The 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-hander turned plenty of heads on the showcase circuit, including a dominant outing at East Coast Pro where he struck out all six batters he faced. He followed that up by helping Citizens Christian capture the Georgia Independent School Association Class A state championship, throwing five scoreless innings in Game 1 of the championship series.

Bryant already features a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has touched 96 mph, and scouts believe there’s even more velocity to come as he continues to add strength. He also mixes in a slider with plus potential, a curveball and a developing changeup, giving him the type of arsenal that projects well as a professional starter.

His departure is a tough loss for Clemson, which had been committed to landing Bryant for more than three years. However, once he positioned himself as a Day 1 MLB Draft selection, the odds of him making it to campus became increasingly slim. With his contract now signed, Bryant will begin his professional career in the Diamondbacks organization instead of wearing a Clemson uniform.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson commit signs MLB contract, will not join Tigers’ baseball program