Clemson’s strike-throwing righty with pro upside, despite a rocky 2026
In the 2026 season, Aidan Knaak still looked like a power RHP worth betting on: Clemson listed him at 2-6 with a 5.81 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 57.1 innings, while his career line remains 16-8 with a 4.29 ERA and 306 strikeouts over 231.0 innings. He has the stuff to miss bats and attack hitters, but 2026 exposed the tradeoff—when his command wobbles, opponents can square him up. For a team, the appeal is clear: durable frame, starter traits, and real swing-and-miss; the question is whether your staff can sharpen the consistency.
