We are under a month away from the start of the Clemson baseball season, and one Clemson pitcher is getting recognition as one of the best starters not only in the ACC but in all of the country.
Clemson's undeniable ace, Aidan Knaak, was named a D1 Baseball’s Preseason First Team All-American. Over 173.2 innings in his collegiate career, Knaak is 14-2 with a 3.78 ERA, adding 218 strikeouts to only 58 walks. With a 3.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio, Knaak is a proven ace at the collegiate level, earning him First Team All-American honors from D1 Baseball.
👀 @aidan_knaak https://t.co/7j8bJgSW8w
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) January 20, 2026
After losing at home in the Clemson regional to Kentucky and West Virginia, head coach Erik Bakich is looking to return to a regional in 2026 and will try to make it out of the regional in 2026. Relying on his Preseason First Team All-American, Knaak, Bakich, and the rest of the Clemson baseball team will be relying on Knaak to be that dominant Friday night starter that he has the talent to be.
Returning for his junior season at Clemson, Knaak will be the guy head coach Erik Bakich relies on as a Friday-night starter. Knaak has the potential to be one of the best Friday night staters in the ACC, and maybe even the country.
A two-time First Team All-ACC member, Knaak is one of the best pitchers in the ACC and is gaining attention as one of the best starters in the country.
When the Clemson Tigers step onto the diamond on February 13, Knaak will presumably be the first Tiger on the bump. The right-handed pitcher has the tools to lead the Tigers on a potential Omaha run.