CLEMSON – On July 12, Aidan Knaak became the first Clemson player drafted in the 2026 MLB Draft, going to the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round with the No. 163 selection. Fifteen days later, the right-handed pitcher decided to forgo signing with a professional team and return to Clemson.
With this development, Clemson not only retains one of its top arms, but it also cements a sure piece to build a weekend rotation around.
Though the first pitch of the 2027 season is still a half-year away, here is a look at what Clemson baseball’s pitching staff could look like around Knaak on the mound, with several returners and some newcomers backing the two-time First Team All-ACC selection.
POSSIBLE WEEKEND STARTERS
Last season, the Tigers’ weekend staff had two sure pieces — Knaak and Tennessee transfer Michael Sharman, who has since signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago White Sox after exhausting his eligibility.
Dane Moehler, the pitcher with the third-most starts last season, will return. In what would have been his first season in 2025, the Marietta, Ga., native was set to be a weekend starter before suffering an elbow injury that kept him out all year. Last season, the righty was limited, pitching only 16 2/3 innings, but still made 10 starts.
With Moehler fully healthy, he could transition to a full-time starting role in 2027, or be used elsewhere, as head coach Erik Bakich sees fit. Several other rising stars from last season–a trio of bright spots in a decidedly ‘down’ year–could also compete for a weekend job.
Among these players are right-handers Danny Nelson and Dylan Harrison, as well as southpaw Brendon Bennett.
Last season, as a true freshman, Nelson held the third-best ERA (3.90) of any pitcher recording 30 or more innings of work, trailing only Sharman and Hayden Simmerson. The Hershey, Pa., native struck out 31 percent of the batters he faced, and 10 of his 18 outings out of the bullpen were scoreless.
This summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League, Nelson built on that success, maintaining an eye-popping 0.61 ERA across four appearances with 18 strikeouts.
In the same summer league, Bennett notched a 1.76 ERA with 16 strikeouts for the Bourne Braves, coming off of a big season with the Tigers last year. As a sophomore, and in his first year of full health, Bennett struck out 29 and only allowed five earned runs in 22 innings.
Both of these arms make strong cases for starting roles next season if they keep developing through the fall.
Additionally, Harrison, who came to Clemson as a two-way player, could also make a case for a weekend position after making five starts last season and keeping a 4.11 ERA in 13 appearances.
The Tigers will also bring in three transfer pitchers and five high school arms, one of which could usurp any of these players for a primetime role as well.
Incoming freshman Chase Kiker, who was ranked the top player in North Carolina, throws a fastball in the upper 90s and utilizes a five-pitch mix, is one to watch here, as well.
BULLPEN ARMS
Throughout the two days of the MLB Draft, Clemson’s bullpen took a bit of a hit, with veteran arms Drew Titsworth, Justin Leguernic and Ariston Veasey opting to sign with professional squads.
Still, though, Clemson will return several noteworthy relievers and bring in some new faces that could be difference-makers.
Maybe the most impactful returner is lefty Jacob McGovern. He is not only coming back to Clemson, but also back from an injury that kept him sidelined all of last season.
In January, McGovern was named a preseason reliever to watch after a 2025 campaign that won him team Most Improved Player honors. In 2025, the Seneca, S.C., native finished with a 3-1 record, striking out 44 and only walking 12 in 35 innings of work. McGovern gave up only one hit in six innings of work in Clemson’s ACC Tournament run to the championship game.
With the local product back, Clemson will integrate a veteran presence back into a very young group. The Tigers’ transfers will also help with that.
This offseason, Bakich and his staff picked up a commitment from Landon White of Bryant University, a graduate with 44 innings of relief work under his belt and a career 3.29 ERA. Last season, he struck out four in three scoreless innings of work against Clemson.
University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Kailen Hackmann and Bowling Green’s Jackson Miller joined the pitching staff this summer. Both could be enormous additions out of the pen. Miller was a starter last season, so it will be interesting to see how he is utilized.
These three pitchers will provide immediate experience, even if it has not been at the Power 4 level.
Dion Brown, who was one of the team’s most improved players last year, bringing his velocity up almost 10 miles per hour, will also return, potentially in a closer role.
POSSIBLE MIDWEEK STARTERS
Any number of the aforementioned pitchers could make midweek starts, or could split time on the weekends and during midweek matchups.
However, rising sophomore Eston Simpson, who started three midweek games, could be a prime candidate to lead Clemson in those weekday games. Landon Fowler, who struck out 10 and gave up only two runs last season, could be in the same category.
Dan Margolies, who was a highly-praised freshman last fall, missed the entire 2026 season due to an elbow injury.
In the last two years, players dealing with similar injuries have made midweek starts as a ramp-up to full recoveries. Though he was primarily a relief arm in high school, the Cheshire, Conn., native could get the same weekday rehabilitation treatment that Moehler, Bennett and Talan Bell did over the last two seasons.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With football’s fall camp set to get started next week and the MLB signing deadline gone, it is a long way from Clemson baseball’s season-opening tournament in Arlington, Texas this February.
Still, with Knaak, several young talents and some transfers headed into what Clemson hopes is a bounce-back fall, the pitching staff could have a better year in the 2027 season.