CLEMSON — A year ago, most assumed Aidan Knaak was entering his final fall at Clemson.
The right-handed hurler was seen as one of those players who would be heading off to the professional ranks after his junior season, and after being taken in the fifth round by the Brewers over the summer, it looked like that is exactly how things would play out. However, things don’t always go as planned.
Knaak would eventually turn down Milwaukee in favor of returning to Clemson.
“It was a pretty crazy process,” Knaak said. “Obviously, it was my draft year. Planned on getting drafted like every junior does, but things changed. What happened with the season, I just thought there was some unfinished business here at Clemson that I needed to clean up, so I decided to come back.”
And the senior pitcher sees getting to spend another year at a place he’s so fond of as a positive, even if that means putting off pro ball for another year.
“It is definitely exciting,” Knaak added. “Getting to spend another year with EB (Erik Bakich) and be at Clemson. This is a special place for me. I was happy to come back.”
There is also another layer to this story. With Knaak’s junior season turning out to be a rather bumpy one, the veteran pitcher is eager for another shot to rewrite the story on how his final season turns out.
Knaak went just 2-6 last season with an ERA of 5.81, with 88 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched. After beginning the year as the Friday starter, he was eventually moved back to the Sunday slot late in the regular season.
It was a season the former freshman All-American believes he can learn from and intends to apply those lessons learned into having a bounce-back season. Not just for himself, but for the Clemson team as a whole, after the Tigers failed to make the postseason in 2026 for the first time during the Bakich era.
“I obviously didn’t have the season I wanted to have and wasn’t able to help Clemson as much as I thought I would,” Knaak said. “But I am excited to help Clemson, push them further, and hopefully get a trip to Omaha. I am excited for a new run.”
