CLEMSON — As Clemson gets set to open the 2025 baseball season, there is no question that Aidan Knaak is expected to be the ace of the Tigers’ pitching staff.

After an outstanding freshman campaign that saw Knaak earn National Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors, big things are expected from the sophomore hurler.

After starting on Sundays last year, many expect Knaak to slide into that Friday slot in 2025. However, the All-American isn’t overly concerned with what day he throws. As long as it’s good for the team, Knaak doesn’t care what day he pitches.

“I don’t really care what day I pitch,” Knaak said. “As long as I can help the team, it doesn’t matter. We are going to be playing the same team Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so it doesn’t matter to me.”

Last season, Knaak started 15 games, going 5-1 with an ERA of 3.35. He struck out 108 hitters while walking just 29.

Although, as good as he was as a freshman, Knaak feels there’s still room for improvement.

“There’s a lot of things to take from last year that I did well that I will continue to keep doing,” Knaak said. “A lot of other things I can take and keep improving. So that has kind of been the whole focus from the end of last year, carrying through the fall.”

One way Knaak is looking to improve is by adding to his arsenal. Not only has he added a cutter to his repertoire, but he’s also added a two-seam fastball.

Last season, Knaak dazzled right-handed hitters with his changeup, and he feels like the cutter can have that same effect on left-handed hitters.

“I feel like one of the main ways is I added a couple of new pitches,” Knaak added. “A two-seam and I added a cutter. Just being able to utilize different sequences this year, I feel like will help my game to get into those later innings.”

One of the keys to adding to his arsenal is making sure the new pitches don’t take away from the ones he’s already mastered. To help with that, he draws on a conversation he had last year with former Clemson Tiger and current Atlanta Brave Spencer Strider.

“Spencer mentioned that last year,” he said. “That if you are going to add a pitch to your arsenal, just make sure it doesn’t take away from what you already have and what you do well.”

It’s just one of many things Knaak continues to utilize from Strider as he continues to grow as a pitcher.

“He’s a great resource,” Knaak said. “He played here, he is in the big leagues. A starting pitcher in the big leagues. So there is a lot to learn from him. Really articulate about his mental game so a really good guy to pick ideas from.”

Clemson will open the season on Feb. 14 in Arlington, Texas by playing in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown. The Tigers will face off with Oklahoma State that Friday, then play Arizona on Saturday. Clemson will finish the Showdown up by playing Ole Miss on Sunday.