Clemson Tigers right-handed pitcher Aidan Knaak is returning to college baseball for the 2027 season. This decision for the Clemson ace came after he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
Knaak was the 163rd overall pick. He was one of five Clemson players who were drafted.
In a post on Instagram, Knaak had this to say about his return to Clemson for his senior season of college baseball.
“I’m extremely grateful to the Brewers for believing in me and offering an incredible opportunity,” Knaak said. “After a lot of reflection, I’ve decided to return to Clemson for my senior year. There’s unfinished business here. I’m committed to growing, developing, and putting in work to be better for my teammates.”
Knaak and his career with Clemson
In three full seasons with the Tigers, Knaak has a 4.29 ERA in 231 innings of work. Over that same stretch, he has 306 strikeouts and has picked up 16 wins on the mound in his career.
The right-hander from Fort Myers is a two-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. He became the first Clemson pitcher ever to earn first-team all-conference honors in his first two seasons on campus.
During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Knaak played a big role in Clemson hosting regionals at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
In 2026, Knaak’s numbers took a dip. He finished the year with a 2-6 record and a 5.81 ERA in 57 1/3 innings of work. He made 13 starts this past season for the Tigers.
Knaak was still able to tally up tons of strikeouts with 88 total in 2026. He finished in the top 15 in the ACC in strikeouts and led Clemson.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Via Aidan Knaak on Instagram (@aidan_knaak)
