Clemson baseball’s Cam Cannarella taken in first round of 2025 MLB Draft
Clemson’s Cam Cannarella is an MLB Draft pick.
The Miami Marlins drafted the Tigers junior outfielder and fan favorite with the No. 43 overall pick in the first round of the draft on Sunday from Atlanta.
The slot value for that pick is $2.28 million, per MLB.com.
Cannarella is Clemson’s highest draft pick in four years. The last time a Tiger went in that high was Max Wagner in 2022 (second round, No. 42 overall to the Orioles).
He was taken four picks after Newnan (Georgia) High School shortstop and Clemson signee Dax Kilby was drafted No. 39 overall by the New York Yankees (slot value $2.51 million). Kilby is widely expected to go pro instead of attending Clemson.
Clemson transfer outfielder commit Ryan Wideman, formerly of Western Kentucky, was also picked in the third round by the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
An in-state recruit from Hartsville, Cannarella had a dazzling career at Clemson from 2023-25 and is the most recognizable player of the Erik Bakich era. He was a three-year starter and Clemson’s first multi-time All American since Seth Beer.
An every-game starter in center fielder, Cannarella finished his Clemson career batting .360 and was a key part of three Tigers teams that won 40-plus games and hosted an NCAA regional three years in a row under Bakich.
He particularly became know for his clutch plays in the postseason.
Cannarella batted .412 in 20 career postseason games and .409 in his NCAA Tournament career and had an all-time sequence in a 2024 super regional loss against Florida in which he hit a game-tying three-run home run in the ninth inning and later made an over-the-shoulder catch to extend the game in the 10th.
Cannarella received a standing ovation in his final at-bat at Doug Kingsmore Stadium during a 2025 NCAA regional loss to Kentucky. Bakich described him postgame as arguably one of the best center fielders in college baseball history.
“Very disappointed that Cam Cannarella doesn’t get to play in Omaha,” Bakich said on June 1. “That’s a guy that comes around once every blue moon.”
Cannarella’s selection officially came in the “Competitive Balance A” round between the first and second rounds, but that’s generally considered the first round.
The Marlins have existed since 1993 and won the 1997 and 2003 World Series. Since that second championship, though, the franchise has only made two playoff appearances. Miami is 43-51 (.457) so far in the 2025 season.
Clemson players in 2025 MLB Draft
- SS Dax Kilby (HS commit): First round (No. 39 overall) to the New York Yankees
- OF Cam Cannarella: First round (No. 43) to the Miami Marlins
- OF Ryan Wideman (transfer commit): Third round (No. 99) to the San Diego Padres
- RHP Lucas Mahlstedt: Seventh round (No. 199) to the Los Angeles Angels
This story was originally published July 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM.
