Former Clemson baseball star wins Minor League Player of Year award

One of the best to ever put on a Clemson baseball uniform has been named Minor League Player of the Year. Former Tigers outfielder Cam Cannarella was named the Miami Marlins' Minor League Player of the Year on Friday. The 23-year-old, who was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2025 Major Lea

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One of the best to ever put on a Clemson baseball uniform has been named Minor League Player of the Year.

Former Tigers outfielder Cam Cannarella was named the Miami Marlins' Minor League Player of the Year

on Friday. The 23-year-old, who was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, batted .324 with a .422 on base percentage and .934 OPS in 98 games in the Marlins' farm system this season.

Cannarella began the year in Class-A with the Beloit Sky Carp in the Midwest League before earning a promotion to Double-A Pensacola of the Southern League in June. He was promoted again to Triple-A Jacksonville of the International League in mid-July.

Cannarella finished his first full season of professional ball with 15 home

runs, 22 doubles and 57 RBIs. He stole 21 bases in 28 attempts.

A three-year starter at Clemson, Cannarella batted .360 with a 1.004 OPS in 178 games. He hit 23 home runs, 54 doubles and drove in 159 runs with the Tigers from 2023-25.

Cannarella's biggest highlight-reel play came in the Clemson Super Regional of the 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament against the Florida Gators in 2024 when the centerfielder made a spectacular Willie Mays' style catch to extend the game.

The Tigers made the NCAA Tournament in each of Cannarella's three seasons. Clemson won the ACC his freshman year in 2023, and their 2024 super regional appearance was the program's first in 14 years.

Cannarella was honored during a pregame ceremony Friday at loanDepot Park in Miami ahead of the Marlins' game against the Atlanta Braves.

He told MLB.com:

"I had a really good year. Getting injured made me think of my family… for what God put in my hands and just meeting a lot of new people. I feel like that's kind of key to success, too. I'm just thankful and I pray to God to just keep me healthy every day. Hopefully, I (will) get here next year."

Cannarella suffered a fractured wrist in April but returned on May 17. He is ranked the No. 6 overall prospect in the Marlins' organization by MLB.com.

Cam Cannarella & Eliazar Dishmey Named Player & Pitcher of the Year, Highlighting 2026 Miami Marlins Player Development Award Winners pic.twitter.com/X4o9OHaVCw
— Marlins Communications (@MarlinsComms) September 25, 2026