Reacting to Clemson star turning down MLB for one more season with Tigers

Clemson baseball received a significant piece of good news before Monday’s MLB Draft signing deadline.

Right-handed pitcher Aidan Knaak has decided to return to the Tigers rather than begin his professional career after being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of this year’s MLB Draft. The Brewers took Knaak with the 163rd overall pick, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement before the deadline, allowing the veteran starter to head back to Clemson.

With the NCAA’s updated eligibility rules, Knaak still has two seasons of eligibility remaining, giving Erik Bakich another experienced arm to build around heading into next year.

Although Knaak’s 2026 campaign did not match the success of his first two seasons, he continued to show why he has been one of Clemson’s most dependable starters. He finished the year with a 2-6 record and a 5.81 ERA across 13 starts, striking out 88 batters in 57.1 innings.

Before last season, Knaak established himself as one of the ACC’s top pitchers. He earned All-ACC honors in each of his first two years, becoming the first Clemson pitcher to accomplish that feat.

Top Clemson baseball pitcher reportedly makes decision on MLB future

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— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) July 27, 2026

Over 44 career starts, Knaak owns a 16-8 record with a 4.29 ERA while holding opponents to a .239 batting average. He has piled up 306 strikeouts compared to just 81 walks in 231 innings, placing him among the top strikeout pitchers in program history. Clemson has also gone 32-12 in games he has started, highlighting the impact he has made throughout his career.

Knaak’s decision gives the Tigers an experienced leader at the front of the rotation and provides another major offseason win as Clemson prepares for the 2027 season.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Reacting to Clemson star turning down MLB for one more season with Tigers