Riley Bertram reflects on his time at Clemson

Clemson infielder Riley Bertram is one of several former Michigan players who followed head coach Erik Bakich when he took the Tigers job after the 2022 season. Reflecting on his decision after Clemson was eliminated from its NCAA baseball tournament regional over the weekend, Bertram had no regrets about his choice.

Coming to Clemson fulfilled two desires for him after a four successful years at Michigan. He got to play with top-notch talent and he got to meet new people and build new bonds with Clemson in 2023.

“Two big things for me were playing with some really elite players — Caden Grice, Cooper Ingle, Billy Amick and Cam Cannarella, can’t say enough about that kid, he’s going to do special things — and the friendships I’ve made here,” Bertram said. “Jackson Lindley, Ryan Ammons, list goes on and on. That’s what it’s really about and my circle got bigger and I couldn’t be excited that I came here and met new guys.”

Bertram came to Clemson and played all 63 games for the Tigers as the regular second basemen. He hit for a .282 average and had a career-high 18 stolen bases (he had 17 on his career entering this season). He got caught stealing just three times. He also set career highs in RBI (44) and bases on balls (38) to register a .396 OBP. His only season with a high OBP was 2019, his freshman season at Michigan, where he had just 26 at-bats, as opposed to the 227 at-bats Bertram had in 2023.

He also had his best defensive season of his career, recording a .978 fielding percentage with a career high in putouts and just six errors, as opposed to 15 a year ago.

With this steady contribution in the lineup and at second base, Bertram helped Clemson weather a putrid beginning to the season and get red hot toward the end of the year. As such, the Tigers earned a national seed and the privilege of hosting a regional after winning the ACC Tournament.

A magical run came undone with losses to Tennessee and then Charlotte, but Bertram got everything he could’ve wanted from his time at Clemson. And the Tigers got a sterling season from Bertram on the diamond.

And he might have helped set the table for a run of success to come under Bakich.

“I mean I truly — it was an honor to be here, to see what Clemson’s all about,” Bertram said.