Tag: Cam Cannarella

Clemson star named the No.1 college prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft

Cam Cannarella has been named the No. 1 college prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft by Baseball America.

Clemson baseball has a star in Cam Cannarella, who was recently acknowledged as the top overall draft prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft.

Baseball America released their top 10 college prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft, with Cannarella earning the No.1 spot in the rankings. Cannarella was a first-team All-ACC member and the ACC’s Freshman of the Year while earning first-team All-American honors from multiple places.

Last season, Cannarella hit .388 with 72 runs, 16 doubles, three triples, seven homers, and 47 RBIs while posting a .560 slugging percentage, .462 on-base percentage, and 24 steals in 59 games (59 starts in center field). Here is what writer Peter Flaherty had to say about the Tigers’ star.

Cannarella enjoyed a sensational freshman season, in which he hit .388/.462/.560 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned an invitation to Team USA.

Cannarella has a wiry and athletic frame at 6’, 175-pounds. He has an open stance in the box with a semi-high handset. While there are some moving parts in his swing, he is consistently on time and in a good hitter’s position. Bottom line, he makes it work. Cannarella has above-average bat speed and uses all fields, but his ability to generate quality contact to the opposite field is especially impressive. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills, as in 2023 he had a 93% IZ contact rate, including a video game–like 97% IZ contact rate against fastballs. Simply put, you are not going to beat him with the heater.

We can expect a big season from the sophomore as the Tigers look to make another run.

Bakich says teams tried to poach Cannarella by tampering

Teams tried to poach the ACC Freshman of the Year, Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said on Thursday.

The Clemson baseball team was in jeopardy of losing one of its brightest stars this offseason. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday for the first time since the end of the Tigers’ season, head coach Erik Bakich discussed how opposing programs were trying to convince Cam Cannarella to transfer to their team through third-party groups.

“I love Cam, I love his family and I appreciate the loyalty because there was tampering going on with him,” Bakich said. “There were third parties, and that’s how it’s done. It’s never done from direct coach to player; it’s the third-party stuff. But he held his ground and stuck his feet in, and their family realized that he’s not only grown as a baseball player but as a person. And his friends are here, and he’s thriving here. You don’t want to mess with success, and he’s very successful here.”

Cannarella was an instrumental piece of Clemson’s 2023 team. Winning ACC Freshman of the Year, the center fielder hit .388 with 72 runs, 16 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 47 RBIs.

“It’s really exciting to think about his trajectory and about the career that he can build for himself on that trajectory and being able to play this great game for a long, long time,” Bakick said. “I love his fire, I love his competitiveness, and I don’t want to lose that for one second because it’s what makes him great. He’s awesome, and we love having him. I’m glad he’s on our team and staying on our team.”

Clemson lost multiple key players from last year’s team, both to the MLB draft and the transfer portal. But, for now, Cannarella remains an integral and versatile member of Team 127.

“He can play anywhere,” Bakich added. “Cam Cannarella can play infield, outfield, pitch and catch. He’s a ballplayer. He’s just got that ‘it’ factor. But it sure looks like he’s found a home at center field.”

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