On Sunday night, Cam Cannarella heard his name called in the 2025 MLB Draft. The former Clemson star outfielder came off the board with the final pick prior to the second round, when he was selected in the Competitive Balance Round A (No. 43 overall) by the Miami Marlins.
One person who loves that draft choice is MLB Network analyst Greg Amsinger.
“If you like guys with a high motor, who will literally risk everything to catch a fly ball, you’re gonna be a fan of this kid,” Amsinger said during MLB Network’s coverage of the draft.
“I’ve been a fan of this kid at Clemson for a while,” Amsinger added.
Amsinger went on to give an MLB player comp for Cannarella – San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill.
The 22-year-old Merrill was drafted by the Padres in the first round (27th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2024. As a rookie last season, he hit .292 with 24 home runs, 90 RBI and 16 stolen bases while being named an All-Star and making the All-MLB Second Team, as well as winning a Silver Slugger Award.
“I’m gonna say Jackson Merrill is my comp (for Cannarella),” Amsinger said. “You can dream on Jackson Merrill for Cam Cannarella.”
In 2025, Cannarella hit .353 with five homers, two triples, 22 doubles, 52 RBIs, 62 runs, a .479 on-base percentage and six steals in 61 games. He ended the season on a 44-game on-base streak and 22-game hitting streak, as he hit .421 with four homers, a triple, 11 doubles, a .684 slugging percentage and .491 on-base percentage during his hitting streak.
In his Clemson career, Cannarella hit .360 with 262 hits, 54 doubles, eight triples, 23 homers, 159 RBIs, 192 runs and 30 steals in 178 games. He also posted a .551 slugging percentage and .453 on-base percentage.
Current MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd, the former Colorado Rockies general manager (1999-2014), also weighed in on the Marlins drafting Cannarella.
“Tremendous instincts to go get the ball,” O’Dowd said. “It’s more of a bat-to-ball, contact-type guy. He did have a serious labrum injury, which limited his throwing and his base stealing this year. But you’re just betting on the strength. The strength is gonna have to come for him to impact our game. But he is an elite defensive center fielder.”
Cannarella was the highest-drafted Tiger since Max Wagner, who was chosen in the second round (No. 42 overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. Cannarella, the first Tiger drafted by the Marlins since 2005 (Kris Harvey), became the first Tiger since Seth Beer (2016-18) to be an All-American in multiple years, as he was a third-team All-American in 2024 and 2025.
Cannarella was ranked as the No. 36 overall prospect in this year’s draft class by MLB.com.
–Clemson Athletic Communications contributed to this story