CLEMSON — Some athletes carry an intangible quality called the “deep-breath” factor.
These are the players who give fans peace of mind—the ones who enter the game and, with their presence alone, signal that everything is under control. It is seen in elite NFL quarterbacks, Olympic legends, and NBA greats.
For Clemson baseball fans last season, it was found in right-handed relief pitcher Lucas Mahlstedt.
The Ormond Beach, Fla., native wrapped up his final collegiate season with a 4-1 record, a 3.00 ERA, and an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 4:1. He also notched 15 saves, tying Clemson’s single-season record.