Parker’s hot baseball start keeps questions flowing about his future

No self-respecting Clemson fan would ever root against one of their own.

But it’s easy to understand why Tiger football fans would get nervous every time Parker steps to the plate in a Clemson baseball uniform.

It’s well known that Parker could face a difficult choice this spring; a sophomore quarterback, he’s a junior in baseball eligibility, exposing him to the MLB amateur draft and, potentially, an owner’s deep, bonus-filled pockets.

Two weeks into the 2010 season, his performance is doing nothing to ease fans’ fears. Heading into this weekend’s rivalry series with No. 15 South Carolina — which begins with tonight’s 6:30 p.m. game at Doug Kingsmore Stadium — Parker is white-hot.

Through seven games, he’s hitting .464 with four home runs and 10 RBI, slugging a healthy .893. He leads No. 13 Clemson (7-0) in runs, hits, home runs, batting average and slugging percentage.

He credits his success to improved balance between football and baseball: Parker will only participate in 10-11 of the 15 spring practices, avoiding the strain which led to a .255 average last year, down from the healthy .303 clip of his freshman All-America season.

“The pressure is off and I’m having fun,” he said. “My biggest concern is this team and helping our team win and be successful. I have the support from both the baseball and football staffs. They really just let me do what makes me happy.”

Shortly after the football season ended with Dec. 27’s Music City Bowl win over Kentucky, Parker got back in the batting cages — it was the first time he had picked up a bat since last June.

Using Clemson’s new video system, he analyzed at-bats from 2009 and fixed mistakes, which has clearly paid off.

“When you’re hitting it well, things do seem to come a little easier. I’m pretty comfortable at the plate right now,” Parker said. “The biggest thing is, I get myself in trouble and I don’t feel I have a lot of times when I strike out where I miss strikes.

“It’s when I start swinging at pitches I’m not going to be able to hit. That was a big point of emphasis of my at-bats, just going in there and swinging at pitches I know I’m going to be able to hit not swing at pitches outside the zone.”

This spring, Parker doesn’t have to win the starting quarterback job, and he’s allowed to watch film on his own time on Mondays and Fridays. Last year, his presence was required at 6 a.m. meetings, sometimes after a night baseball game, which wore him down.

“There’s more priority towards baseball and that’s the way I wanted it to be,” he said. “I didn’t think it would be fair for me to be out at football, wearing myself out, not giving 100 percent to the baseball team and helping us win.”

Clemson coach Jack Leggett notices a big difference.

“He’s a lot more relaxed, it seems like , this year than he was this time last year,” Leggett said. “He’s able to focus on his baseball. He’s hit the ball well, is playing well, has a real good frame of mind, works at his game. He’s got that instinctive savvy where he’s cool under the pressure and is able to handle the pressure. He’s been doing that out there, doing a nice job. His confidence is beginning to roll.”

If this streak carries into summer, it’s easy to understand why Dabo Swinney would get anxious. But he said Thursday that he feels Parker’s big decision will come next summer — at the end of his senior baseball season.

“I’d be completely shocked if Kyle Parker passes up the opportunity to run down that hill and be the starting quarterback at Clemson University to go ride a bus to Wichita this year,” Swinney said. “But never say never.

“Not that Wichita is a bad place.”

When told of Swinney’s comments, Parker was, as expected, noncommittal.

Which means fans’ anxiety will only increase with every at-bat.

“There are still a lot of factors to consider. We still have the whole season in front of us,” he said. “Ultimately there will be a big decision to make at the end of this spring and depending on what happens, probably at the end of next spring.

“But the thing I’m worried about is not going out and thinking about it every day. I’m doing what I’m doing, having a good time, enjoying playing the game.”

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