Didn't see it posted and wanted to share for those interested:
by: Bradley SmartMay 27, 2025
There are few players in the country that have the capability to make the plays Cannarella does in center field, and he’s truly the emotional heartbeat of the Tigers. Cannarella has heated up down the stretch offensively and is now slashing .344/.477/.495 with more walks (51) than strikeouts (40) and 20 doubles on the year. Clemson head coach Erik Bakich has frequently described him as a superhero, particularly in big moments. “He has that ability, that when we need the highest level of compete and the highest level of execution, in the most high-leverage situation, that is when he shines,” Bakich said. “He’s got a very special gift in that regard.” And, since Cannarella has a claim for the next category as well, it’s notable that over the last month, he’s 26-for-58 (.448) with seven extra-base hits and paces the team with 16 RBIs and an 1.181 OPS.
Clemson OF Cam Cannarella (Photo courtesy of Clemson)
Best Hitter: Johnny Sweeney, DH, USC Upstate
We’ll highlight the younger brother of USC Upstate head coach Kane Sweeney here. Johnny Sweeney has erupted as a junior and entrenched himself in the cleanup role for the Spartans. He hit just .201 over 139 at-bats in his first two years on campus but has slashed .351/.702/.504 with 17 home runs and 15 doubles while driving in 81 runs. Sweeney’s 3.8 offensive WAR paces the field in Clemson while his underlying numbers show an ability to punish secondaries, particularly changeups and sliders. The former is an interesting matchup against the Tigers’ Aidan Knaak as Sweeney’s posted a .562 wOBA (96th percentile) against changeups.
Best Defensive Player: Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson
In the 2024 Super Regional against Florida, Cannarella pulled off the catch of the year — an over-the-shoulder basket catch while running at full speed up the hill in center field at Doug Kingsmore Stadium — to prevent a walk-off in the 10th inning. That type of play is almost routine for the junior, who flashed the leather on many occasions this year and provided a safety blanket for his pitching staff. Metrically, he’s also only gotten better this year, posting an 11.8 defensive runs saved mark that ranks 11th nationally among center fielders. You can chalk the improvement up to settling back in after offseason labrum surgery.
Best Pitcher: Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson
There’s an argument here for Clemson’s backend pairing of Reed Garris and Lucas Mahlstedt, but the Tigers’ path to a regional win begins with a strong start from Knaak. He’s been outstanding in his last two starts, going a combined 13.1 innings with two runs on four hits allowed while striking out 18. It starts with his changeup, one of the better pitches in the country. In those two starts, opponents were just 1-for-17 against it with 11 strikeouts. He’s made 30 starts in two years for Clemson, including a pair in the postseason last year, so he’s no stranger to the big moment.
X-Factor: Carson Estridge, RHP, West Virginia
WVU’s Carson Estridge (Shotgun Spratling)
The bullpen was a big part of West Virginia’s ability to enter the first midweek of May at 39-7 overall. In the nine games since — in which the Mountaineers went 2-7 — that group has posted a 12.55 ERA with erratic command, totaling 23 walks and 10 hit batters in 33 innings. The case study for those struggles is Estridge, a proven righthander who had eight straight scoreless appearances under his belt before a shaky outing against Pitt. He’s now given up 14 runs in his last four outings, all losses. If the Mountaineers are going to make a run, they need more from the bullpen and Estridge — with a five-pitch mix — is crucial in that.
Best Starting Rotation: Kentucky
The lack of a third starter for Clemson and West Virginia knocks them here. The Tigers have Knaak and Drew Titsworth while the Mountaineers have Griffin Kirn and Jack Karstonas, but both have had to lean on openers or staff days to round out weekends. Clemson has arguably more upside there with B.J. Bailey showing flashes in a few impressive starts, but Kentucky’s consistency gets it the nod. From the midway point of the season on, the Wildcats have trotted out the trio of Nate Harris (4-2, 4.22 ERA), Nic McCay (5-0, 4.37), and Ben Cleaver (6-3, 3.51). All three are holding opposing hitters under a .240 batting average while Cleaver has piled up 87 strikeouts in 77 innings. The lefty, at his best, tossed seven innings of two-run ball against Tennessee with seven punchouts.
Ben Cleaver of Kentucky (UK photo)
Best Bullpen: Clemson
West Virginia has a case here with the season numbers, but its recent struggles draw a sharp contrast with how the Tigers’ bullpen has really grown into their roles. Everyone knows the name of Mahlstedt, who has logged 15 saves and posted a gaudy 59:7 K/BB ratio over 45 innings this season. To get to the closer, the Tigers have a trio of arms that have been lights out. Getting Garris (27 IP, 1.33 ERA) back from injury will be crucial and he was reportedly available for Sunday’s ACC Championship game. Alongside him, Joe Allen (29.1 IP, 1.84 ERA) has been stellar all year while lefty Jacob McGovern (31 IP, 3.48 ERA) has really grown into a key multi-inning relief role.
Best Offensive Team: USC Upstate
The Spartans lead the regional in a variety of offensive categories, whether it’s scoring (9.7 runs per game, second nationally), home runs (99, 14th), average (.319, sixth), and wRC+ (124, 14th). It’s an established lineup with a good blend of youth and experience, headlined by Sweeney but also featuring the likes of leadoff hitter Henry Zenor (.367/.457/.566, 7 HR), power-speed contributor Vance Sheahan (.331/.401/.527, 12 HR, 25 SB), and Scott Campbell (.400/.511/.644, 11 HR). The Spartans have five players with double-digit home runs, partially a product of the ballpark they’re in, but they have posted an .898 OPS as a team away from Harley Park. In its run to the Big South crown, USC Upstate outscored its opponents by a 34-11 margin in three games.
Best Defensive Team: Clemson
Good defensive teams are strong up the middle and that’s certainly the case with Clemson. Backstop Jacob Jarrell has thrown out 17 baserunners, Cannarella is excellent in center field, and the double play combination of Andrew Ciufo and Jarren Purify is elite. Josh Paino was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year last year while playing shortstop for Cal Baptist and has moved seamlessly to third, while Dominic Listi is a strong left fielder behind him as well. One question was about the defense in right field, but freshman TP Wentworth has assumed that role after some injuries and looked fantastic in the ACC Tournament. He’s got a cannon as well, unsurprisingly given his two-way duties on the mound. The Tigers have also returned Jack Crighton to first base after a stint in right, so it’s a well-rounded group overall. They lead the field with 68 defensive runs saved, eight more than second-place West Virginia.
No. 1 Seed Win Probability (1-10): 6. The atmosphere in Doug Kingsmore Stadium has been ratcheted up over the last few years under Bakich and it feels like the vibe around Clemson is that of unfinished business. A regional exit in 2023 and heartbreaking super loss in 2024 feels like it should be enough fuel for the Tigers to continue on the road to Omaha, particularly with how they played in the first two games in Durham. It helps that West Virginia hasn’t been playing its best baseball lately, while Kentucky — albeit with some big series wins — did finish 13th in the SEC. Both of those teams at their best are quite dangerous, though, hence the 60/40 prognostication.
Frisky 4-seed Factor (1-10): 7. USC Upstate had been knocking on the door of a regional for several years under Mike McGuire, losing back-to-back Big South title games. After McGuire departed to Winthrop, Sweeney — the associate head coach and hitting coach — was promoted and guided the Spartans to their first-ever berth. What makes Upstate dangerous is its offense, averaging just under 10 runs per game (second nationally) while slashing .319/.422/.530 as a team. Those are all top-20 marks, as is its 124 wRC+. They may not have the pitching to match up with the other three, but the lineup is solidified and hasn’t changed over the last two weeks. And the Spartans are the best 4-seed in the field of 64, according to DSR (Diamond Sports Ranking).
Clemson
CF Cam Cannarella — 4.2
LF Dominic Listi — 4.2
2B Jarren Purify — 3.2
3B Josh Paino — 2.7
C Jacob Jarrell — 2.5
West Virginia
DH Kyle West — 3.3
CF Skylar King — 2.5
LF Jace Rinehart — 2.3
2B Sam White — 2.0
SS Brodie Kresser — 2.0
Kentucky
SS Tyler Bell — 3.1
LF Cole Hage — 2.8
3B Patrick Herrera — 2.5
2B Luke Lawrence — 2.4
1B James McCoy — 1.6
USC Upstate
DH Johnny Sweeney — 3.8
RF Scott Campbell — 3.5
CF Scott Newman — 3.4
SS Vance Sheahan — 2.9
LF Henry Zenor — 2.9
2025 Clemson Regional Preview
by: Bradley SmartMay 27, 2025
Checking the Field: Statistical Comparison
This has the potential to be one of the more exciting regionals in the tournament. Host Clemson is no stranger to the postseason under head coach Erik Bakich, who has guided the Tigers to three straight home regionals. After dropping the first one, they advanced last year and have the team to do so again. West Virginia had the makings of a host for much of the year and won the Big 12 regular season title; WVU aims to return to supers for the second season in a row. Kentucky is one of a record 13 teams from the SEC to earn a bid and has its sights set on a second straight run to Omaha. Finally, USC Upstate is in the field for the first time after knocking on the door the last few years before winning 22 of 27 games against Big South competition this spring, en route to the regular-season and tournament crowns.
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| |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | West Virginia | Kentucky | USC Upstate | |
| Seed | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |
| OVR | 44-16 | 41-14 | 29-24 | 36-23 |
| CONF | 21-13 | 20-10 | 13-18 | 22-5 |
| RPI | 9 | 28 | 38 | 87 |
| SOS | 17 | 125 | 9 | 101 |
| Offense | ||||
| RS/G | 7.2 (102nd) | 7.8 (54th) | 6.7 (145th) | 9.7 (2nd) |
| HR | 71 (77th) | 54 (164th) | 52 (176th) | 99 (14th) |
| BB% | 14.1 (13th) | 11.2 (158th) | 10.3 (224th) | 11.5 (138th) |
| K% | 22.4 (270th) | 17.0 (61st) | 18.6 (132nd) | 17.5 (77th) |
| AVG | .279 (149th) | .299 (52nd) | .268 (218th) | .319 (6th) |
| OBP | .409 (43rd) | .396 (93rd) | .390 (120th) | .422 (19th) |
| SLG | .452 (119th) | .456 (113th) | .428 (181st) | .530 (14th) |
| wRC+ | 109 (70th) | 105 (94th) | 100 (143rd) | 124 (14th) |
| Pitching | ||||
| RA/G | 5.5 (69th) | 4.9 (28th) | 4.9 (31st) | 6.4 (126th) |
| K% | 23.9 (26th) | 23.2 (37th) | 23.4 (34th) | 20.5 (96th) |
| BB% | 9.6 (53rd) | 10.8 (130th) | 10.4 (92nd) | 10.5 (98th) |
| K-BB% | 14.3 (29th) | 12.4 (52nd) | 13.0 (41st) | 10.0 (94th) |
| WHIP | 1.37 (34th) | 1.37 (34th) | 1.37 (34th) | 1.49 (81st) |
| ERA | 5.07 (76th) | 4.35 (24th) | 4.53 (33rd) | 5.40 (99th) |
| FIP | 5.85 (115th) | 5.53 (71st) | 5.31 (42nd) | 6.46 (208th) |
Clemson Regional Superlatives
Most Exciting Player: Cam Cannarella, CF, ClemsonThere are few players in the country that have the capability to make the plays Cannarella does in center field, and he’s truly the emotional heartbeat of the Tigers. Cannarella has heated up down the stretch offensively and is now slashing .344/.477/.495 with more walks (51) than strikeouts (40) and 20 doubles on the year. Clemson head coach Erik Bakich has frequently described him as a superhero, particularly in big moments. “He has that ability, that when we need the highest level of compete and the highest level of execution, in the most high-leverage situation, that is when he shines,” Bakich said. “He’s got a very special gift in that regard.” And, since Cannarella has a claim for the next category as well, it’s notable that over the last month, he’s 26-for-58 (.448) with seven extra-base hits and paces the team with 16 RBIs and an 1.181 OPS.
Best Hitter: Johnny Sweeney, DH, USC Upstate
We’ll highlight the younger brother of USC Upstate head coach Kane Sweeney here. Johnny Sweeney has erupted as a junior and entrenched himself in the cleanup role for the Spartans. He hit just .201 over 139 at-bats in his first two years on campus but has slashed .351/.702/.504 with 17 home runs and 15 doubles while driving in 81 runs. Sweeney’s 3.8 offensive WAR paces the field in Clemson while his underlying numbers show an ability to punish secondaries, particularly changeups and sliders. The former is an interesting matchup against the Tigers’ Aidan Knaak as Sweeney’s posted a .562 wOBA (96th percentile) against changeups.
Best Defensive Player: Cam Cannarella, CF, Clemson
In the 2024 Super Regional against Florida, Cannarella pulled off the catch of the year — an over-the-shoulder basket catch while running at full speed up the hill in center field at Doug Kingsmore Stadium — to prevent a walk-off in the 10th inning. That type of play is almost routine for the junior, who flashed the leather on many occasions this year and provided a safety blanket for his pitching staff. Metrically, he’s also only gotten better this year, posting an 11.8 defensive runs saved mark that ranks 11th nationally among center fielders. You can chalk the improvement up to settling back in after offseason labrum surgery.
Best Pitcher: Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson
There’s an argument here for Clemson’s backend pairing of Reed Garris and Lucas Mahlstedt, but the Tigers’ path to a regional win begins with a strong start from Knaak. He’s been outstanding in his last two starts, going a combined 13.1 innings with two runs on four hits allowed while striking out 18. It starts with his changeup, one of the better pitches in the country. In those two starts, opponents were just 1-for-17 against it with 11 strikeouts. He’s made 30 starts in two years for Clemson, including a pair in the postseason last year, so he’s no stranger to the big moment.
X-Factor: Carson Estridge, RHP, West Virginia
The bullpen was a big part of West Virginia’s ability to enter the first midweek of May at 39-7 overall. In the nine games since — in which the Mountaineers went 2-7 — that group has posted a 12.55 ERA with erratic command, totaling 23 walks and 10 hit batters in 33 innings. The case study for those struggles is Estridge, a proven righthander who had eight straight scoreless appearances under his belt before a shaky outing against Pitt. He’s now given up 14 runs in his last four outings, all losses. If the Mountaineers are going to make a run, they need more from the bullpen and Estridge — with a five-pitch mix — is crucial in that.
Best Starting Rotation: Kentucky
The lack of a third starter for Clemson and West Virginia knocks them here. The Tigers have Knaak and Drew Titsworth while the Mountaineers have Griffin Kirn and Jack Karstonas, but both have had to lean on openers or staff days to round out weekends. Clemson has arguably more upside there with B.J. Bailey showing flashes in a few impressive starts, but Kentucky’s consistency gets it the nod. From the midway point of the season on, the Wildcats have trotted out the trio of Nate Harris (4-2, 4.22 ERA), Nic McCay (5-0, 4.37), and Ben Cleaver (6-3, 3.51). All three are holding opposing hitters under a .240 batting average while Cleaver has piled up 87 strikeouts in 77 innings. The lefty, at his best, tossed seven innings of two-run ball against Tennessee with seven punchouts.
Best Bullpen: Clemson
West Virginia has a case here with the season numbers, but its recent struggles draw a sharp contrast with how the Tigers’ bullpen has really grown into their roles. Everyone knows the name of Mahlstedt, who has logged 15 saves and posted a gaudy 59:7 K/BB ratio over 45 innings this season. To get to the closer, the Tigers have a trio of arms that have been lights out. Getting Garris (27 IP, 1.33 ERA) back from injury will be crucial and he was reportedly available for Sunday’s ACC Championship game. Alongside him, Joe Allen (29.1 IP, 1.84 ERA) has been stellar all year while lefty Jacob McGovern (31 IP, 3.48 ERA) has really grown into a key multi-inning relief role.
Best Offensive Team: USC Upstate
The Spartans lead the regional in a variety of offensive categories, whether it’s scoring (9.7 runs per game, second nationally), home runs (99, 14th), average (.319, sixth), and wRC+ (124, 14th). It’s an established lineup with a good blend of youth and experience, headlined by Sweeney but also featuring the likes of leadoff hitter Henry Zenor (.367/.457/.566, 7 HR), power-speed contributor Vance Sheahan (.331/.401/.527, 12 HR, 25 SB), and Scott Campbell (.400/.511/.644, 11 HR). The Spartans have five players with double-digit home runs, partially a product of the ballpark they’re in, but they have posted an .898 OPS as a team away from Harley Park. In its run to the Big South crown, USC Upstate outscored its opponents by a 34-11 margin in three games.
Best Defensive Team: Clemson
Good defensive teams are strong up the middle and that’s certainly the case with Clemson. Backstop Jacob Jarrell has thrown out 17 baserunners, Cannarella is excellent in center field, and the double play combination of Andrew Ciufo and Jarren Purify is elite. Josh Paino was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year last year while playing shortstop for Cal Baptist and has moved seamlessly to third, while Dominic Listi is a strong left fielder behind him as well. One question was about the defense in right field, but freshman TP Wentworth has assumed that role after some injuries and looked fantastic in the ACC Tournament. He’s got a cannon as well, unsurprisingly given his two-way duties on the mound. The Tigers have also returned Jack Crighton to first base after a stint in right, so it’s a well-rounded group overall. They lead the field with 68 defensive runs saved, eight more than second-place West Virginia.
No. 1 Seed Win Probability (1-10): 6. The atmosphere in Doug Kingsmore Stadium has been ratcheted up over the last few years under Bakich and it feels like the vibe around Clemson is that of unfinished business. A regional exit in 2023 and heartbreaking super loss in 2024 feels like it should be enough fuel for the Tigers to continue on the road to Omaha, particularly with how they played in the first two games in Durham. It helps that West Virginia hasn’t been playing its best baseball lately, while Kentucky — albeit with some big series wins — did finish 13th in the SEC. Both of those teams at their best are quite dangerous, though, hence the 60/40 prognostication.
Frisky 4-seed Factor (1-10): 7. USC Upstate had been knocking on the door of a regional for several years under Mike McGuire, losing back-to-back Big South title games. After McGuire departed to Winthrop, Sweeney — the associate head coach and hitting coach — was promoted and guided the Spartans to their first-ever berth. What makes Upstate dangerous is its offense, averaging just under 10 runs per game (second nationally) while slashing .319/.422/.530 as a team. Those are all top-20 marks, as is its 124 wRC+. They may not have the pitching to match up with the other three, but the lineup is solidified and hasn’t changed over the last two weeks. And the Spartans are the best 4-seed in the field of 64, according to DSR (Diamond Sports Ranking).
WARriors
Here’s a look at the top five players in Wins Above Replacement (as calculated by our partners at 6-4-3 Charts) for each of the four teams in the Clemson Regional:Clemson
CF Cam Cannarella — 4.2
LF Dominic Listi — 4.2
2B Jarren Purify — 3.2
3B Josh Paino — 2.7
C Jacob Jarrell — 2.5
West Virginia
DH Kyle West — 3.3
CF Skylar King — 2.5
LF Jace Rinehart — 2.3
2B Sam White — 2.0
SS Brodie Kresser — 2.0
Kentucky
SS Tyler Bell — 3.1
LF Cole Hage — 2.8
3B Patrick Herrera — 2.5
2B Luke Lawrence — 2.4
1B James McCoy — 1.6
USC Upstate
DH Johnny Sweeney — 3.8
RF Scott Campbell — 3.5
CF Scott Newman — 3.4
SS Vance Sheahan — 2.9
LF Henry Zenor — 2.9
