Where Clemson baseball outfielder Cam Cannarella lands in final 2025 MLB draft projections

USA Today

12-07-2025

The 2025 MLB draft officially begins Sunday night in Atlanta. For Clemson Tigers outfielder Cam Cannarella, it's only a matter of time before he hears his name called.
Whether it's in the first round (picks 1-27), the supplemental first round (picks 28-43), or the second round (picks 44-65), Cannarella seems to have done enough to earn an early selection.
The Tigers' best all-around player for the better part of three seasons, Cannarella generally had a strong season in 2025. He closed the year with a .353 batting average, 22 doubles and a combined OPS of 1.009. His home run production dipped to just five long balls, down from 11 a year earlier after undergoing surgery at the end of 2024.
With MLB's draft fast approaching, various outlets have unveiled their final 2025 mock drafts. Veteran amateur baseball analyst Kiley McDaniel of ESPN has Cannarella going in the top 40 picks at No. 40 overall to the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the supplemental first round.
Over at MLB.com, longtime MLB draft and minor league baseball analyst Jonathan Mayo sees Cannarella going a few picks higher in the draft to the Boston Red Sox with the No. 33 overall selection.
Cannarella's highest projection comes from Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter, who has Cannarella being taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the final pick in the first round at No. 27 overall.
Reuter said of Cannarella:
"Cam Cannarella checks the contact-oriented box with a 55-grade hit tool, and he adds secondary appeal as a sure-fire center fielder with Gold Glove potential. He hit .360/.453/.551 in 865 plate appearances during his three years at Clemson, and offers enough potential value to overlook his limited power."
While it's not an official mock draft, Yahoo Sports' Jonathan Shusterman lists Cannarella as the No. 31 overall player in his Top 50 player rankings ahead of the MLB draft.
Shusterman adds a word of caution about Cannarella's dip in power:
"The cloud hanging over his exciting profile has been a right shoulder injury that required surgery after his sophomore season, which seemingly sapped his power output as a junior, when he hit just five home runs in 61 games. His aggressiveness on the basepaths also mysteriously disappeared, as he stole just six bases the past two seasons (with all six coming in 2025) after swiping 24 as a freshman. His stellar glove, bat-to-ball skills and advanced approach give Cannarella a safe floor, but his ceiling will be dictated by how much he can tap into his power and speed at the next level."
The 2025 MLB draft begins Sunday at 6 p.m. ET from Atlanta. The first three rounds of the draft will be televised on ESPN and MLB Network, with rounds 4-20 available on MLB Network.