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FRANKENMUTH, MI – Major League Baseball took a one-hour break Sunday between the 10th and 11th rounds of its 2026 draft.
“It was,” Drew Titsworth said, “the longest hour of my life.”
But the wait was worth it when the Philadelphia Phillies took the former Frankenmuth High School pitcher in the 11th round. Titsworth, who pitched in college for Clemson, was the 339th overall pick.
“They called me and set up a deal in the ninth round, but they waited until the 11th round,” Titsworth said. “I knew they were going to pick me since the ninth round, so after that it was just waiting. Then there was an hour-long break after the 10th round, so that didn’t help.”
Titsworth, who graduated from Frankenmuth High School in 2023, said he expects to sign with Philadelphia instead of returning to Clemson.
“Philadelphia set up a deal that me and my family felt was right,” Titsworth said. “You go into it with an open mind. If you don’t get the deal you want, you go back to Clemson. It’s a place I love.
“But I feel good about Philadelphia. I’ll go down to Clearwater in a couple of days to pass a physical. As soon as I pass that, I’ll become a pro.”
Titsworth, 21, earned MLive Saginaw Baseball Player of the Year honors as a high school senior. In his final season with the Eagles, Titsworth struck out 109 and walked 16 in 60 innings, posting a 7-1 record and 0.93 earned run average. He allowed 35 hits and 8 earned runs. As a hitter, Titsworth batted .375 with 21 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 20 walks in 88 at-bats.
“As a kid, playing in the Major Leagues is something you dream about,” Titsworth said. “But I can distinctly remember when I was 12 years old coming home from a tournament. Me and my dad (Rob Titsworth) walked in the front door, and he said that I could probably play college ball and maybe professionally.
“That was the first time I ever seriously thought about it, that it was something I could actually do. Now I look back and say, ‘Wow, he was right.’”
Signing with Philadelphia would mean the end of his Clemson career. Titsworth initially gave a verbal commitment when he was 15 years old to the University of Michigan and then-Wolverines coach Erik Bakich. When Clemson hired Bakich, Titsworth followed him to Clemson.
“My career at Clemson was incredible,” Titsworth said. “You go there to win a national championship and an ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) championship. We did win the ACC regular-season championship my freshman year.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I loved the people. I loved the atmosphere. Coach Bakich has been with me since Day 1 when I was 15 years old. He was the first one to call me and congratulate me.”
During the 2026 season, Titsworth was 4-3 for the Tigers with a 5.09 earned run average in 15 appearances.
He allowed 35 hits and struck out 43 in 35 1/3 innings overall. In 10 appearances as a reliever, Titsworth was 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. He allowed a .172 batting average as a reliever.
Clemson was 31-26 overall but 10-20 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers were 21-6 in non-conference games.
Titsworth was the fifth Clemson player taken in the draft, following pitcher Aidan Knaak, pitcher Justin LeGuernic, catcher Jacob Jarrell and pitcher Ariston Veasey.
“I was happy for them, especially Jacob Jarrell,” Titsworth said. “I hadn’t heard him talked about much before the draft, but his name came up pretty early. That’s awesome. He was a four-year senior, so he was my catcher.”
In his final season at Clemson, Titsworth’s fastball reached 97 mph, and he added a cutter, slider and splitter.
“The feeling was nerves until I got the call, but now it’s mostly excitement,” Titsworth said. “Now, I’m just ready to start my pro career. I’m going to get my chance. It’s up to me.”
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
