Tigers Land Another Top-10 Preseason Ranking
By: Robert MacRae January 28, 2025

The Clemson baseball team has landed another top-10 preseason ranking.

The Tigers are ranked No. 8 in Baseball America’s Preseason Top 25, released Monday.

Clemson finished the 2024 season with a 44-16 overall record under head coach Erik Bakich. The Tigers won the ACC Atlantic Division championship and the Clemson Regional title as well. The Tigers are led by junior outfielder Cam Cannarella and sophomore righthander Aidan Knaak, who were both named All-Americans in 2024.

“Clemson demonstrated key improvement in its second year under head coach Erik Bakich,” Baseball America wrote. “It won a regular-season conference title for the first time since 2018 and advanced to the super regional round for the first time since 2010. The Tigers appear poised to take the next step—reaching the College World Series—with center fielder Cam Cannarella, a Player of the Year contender, and 2024 freshman All-American righthanded starter Aidan Knaak back in the fold. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the year and BA Second-Team Freshman All-American Luke Gaffney, among a handful of other transfers, should help offset draft losses.”

Texas A&M is the preseason top-ranked team, with LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas and Virginia rounding out the top five of Baseball America’s preseason rankings.

Clemson is one of seven ACC teams ranked in the top 25 by Baseball America, joining No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Florida State, No. 10 Duke, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 16 NC State and No. 17 Wake Forest.

Clemson was also recently ranked No. 8 in the Perfect Game preseason rankings.

Meanwhile the Tigers were ranked No. 15 in the 2025 D1Baseball Preseason Top 25.

Clemson starts its 2025 schedule with three games in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas from Feb. 14-16. Clemson’s home opener is against Presbyterian at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.