Clemson’s Cam Cannarella Climbing MLB Draft Boards, Could Land with Pirates at No. 6
The Clemson Tigers boast one of the top prospects in the upcoming MLB Draft — outfielder Cam Cannarella, who’s now projected to go No. 6 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the latest mock draft by Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
This landing spot could be exciting as Pittsburgh continues to build around young ace Paul Skenes, one of the most dominant arms in baseball. Cannarella has the tools to lock down center field, offering a major upgrade over current option Oneil Cruz, whose defense has been underwhelming despite elite athleticism.
While Cruz’s speed and arm are impressive, he struggles with the fundamentals, currently posting a -1 OAA and FRV, ranking near the bottom of the league. Cannarella, on the other hand, blends Cruz’s athletic traits with sharp defensive instincts and elite ball-tracking ability.
He’s already delivered clutch moments — most notably during last year’s Super Regional vs. Florida, when he hit a game-tying homer in the ninth and followed it with a game-saving, leaping catch at the wall in the 10th.
Though his offense has been slightly inconsistent this season, he’s still performing well with a .319/.484/.429 slash line. His glove, however, continues to shine and could be his ticket to becoming a cornerstone in Pittsburgh.
If the Pirates grab him at No. 6, they might be getting their center fielder of the future.
