Mike Proto Class: Senior Hometown: Peabody, MA Height / Weight: 5-10 / 175 Position: LHP Birthdate: 03/14/1978 Bats-Throws: L-L

Crafty lefthander who has shown the ability to strike batters out despite not having overpowering pitches...has seen time as a starter and reliever in his career...has made 53 career appearances and has just two decisions (2-0 record) and one save in three seasons...also has 95 career strikeouts in 99.2 innings pitched...has a 5.06 career ERA...had Clemson's top returning ERA in 1999 and 2000.

Leggett Comments: "He red-shirted his freshmen year and has had some great moments along the way. We look for him to provide some innings for us in the middle part of the game. He is a kid that if he is on and has his breaking ball going and can spot his fastball then he is very effective."

2000: Appeared in 15 games out of the bullpen and made one start...in 16.1 innings pitched, he allowed 21 hits and 14 runs while striking out 14...held righthanded hitters to a .234 batting average...opponents hit just .238 with two outs...earned his first career save in 2.1 innings of work at Duke on Apr. 22...made his first start at Virginia on May 14; he allowed four runs in 4.0 innings...pitched a scoreless inning in relief against #3 Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament on May 20.

1999: Appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen and started seven games (64.2 innings)...his 23 appearances tied for the second most on the team...had a 5.43 ERA and 2-0 record...struck out 64 and walked 27...15 of his 23 appearances were made away from home...allowed just four stolen bases in 11 attempts...had six pickoffs, tied for the team lead...had a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings pitched against ACC competition in the regular season...had a 2.82 ERA along with 28 strikeouts against just seven walks in 22.1 innings (eight appearances) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium...held opponents to a .174 batting average in NCAA Tournament play...held opponents to a .231 batting average with two outs...struck out three, walked none, and allowed one hit in 2.2 innings against Kansas State on Feb. 14...against Liberty in the first game of a doubleheader on Mar. 6, he allowed one hit, one walk, and no earned runs while striking out five in 3.0 innings...made his first career start at Georgia on Mar. 30; he went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs...pitched 4.2 innings of relief at #1 Florida State on Apr. 9, allowing one run while striking out six...pitched a career-high 8.0 innings against Coastal Carolina on May 8; he allowed one run, five hits, and three walks while striking out eight...picked up his first career win (and decision) at N.C. State on May 16 by pitching 6.0 innings, allowing four runs while striking out six...pitched 2.1 innings in the Fayetteville Regional at #8 Arkansas on May 29, allowing one hit, one run, and no walks while striking out four...pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three to pick up the win in the second of two games in the Fayetteville Regional against Southwest Missouri State on May 30 with the season hanging in the balance, giving the Tigers the tournament championship...pitched 6.1 innings in a starting role at #2 Texas A&M in the Super Regional on June 6, allowing two earned runs on six hits in a no decision.

1998: Made the most of his opportunities with a 1.45 ERA in 14 relief appearances (18.2 innings), including an opponent batting average of .206...did not allow an extra-base hit...did not allow an earned run in 9.2 innings pitched against ACC competition; also held ACC hitters to a .094 batting average...only gave up earned runs in two of his 14 appearances and had a streak of 12.1 innings without allowing an earned run...in 10.0 innings pitched at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, he allowed just one run...did not give up an earned run in 7.1 innings at night...only allowed four singles and one walk to the 28 batters he faced playing for top-25 teams...held right-handed hitters to a .176 batting average...opponents only hit .208 against him with two outs...struck out four in 2.0 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against Maine on Mar. 14...allowed just a single hit against #24 N.C. State in 2.1 innings on Apr. 17...pitched 1.1 perfect innings, including three strikeouts, at #24 North Carolina in the first game of a doubleheader on May 9...allowed no earned runs, one walk, and one hit while striking out four in 3.2 innings against #15 Georgia Tech on May 14 in the ACC Tournament.

1997: Red-shirted...had a 2.65 ERA in 17 innings pitched in the Valley League in the summer of 1997...also struck out 21 batters and had a 1-1 record.

BEFORE CLEMSON: Massachusetts Division I All-Star selection in '96...USA Today, Boston Globe, and Boston Herald All-Star in '96...named by coaches as the MVP of the state tournament...played in the Massachusetts All-Star game in Fenway Park...played on the 1996 state final runner-up team at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School...set his high school's record for wins in a season (10)...participated in the Bay State Games from 1994-95 and the Area Code Games in 1995...Greater Boston League All-Star...also a Salem Evening News and Lynn Item All-Star...lettered in baseball every year since his freshman year...also received two letters in soccer (team captain).

PERSONAL: His cousin, Jeff Becker, played baseball at Nichols College...pronounced PROH-toh...nicknamed "Pro"...majoring in Education...born Michael Paul Proto on Mar. 14, 1978.