7. Taylor Clarke, RHP
Birthdate: 5/13/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low-A, high-A, AA
Stats in 2016: 149 1/3 IP, 3.31 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 5.33 BB%, 19.06 K%
Clarke was the Diamondbacks’ 3rd round selection in 2015. He had recovered from Tommy John surgery to become one of the best college pitchers in 2015.
Clarke uses his 6’4 frame to stay high in his delivery and create excellent plane on his fastball, which sits in the low-90s but can touch 95-96. He compliments that with an excellent slider that has the ability to either generate swings or extreme weak contact.
Clarke was in his first full pro season in 2016, and the success he had in his first two stops was no mirage, though he did shuffle more when he reached AA.
excellent control and sinking fastball/slider combo could quickly make him a solid back-end starter
I don’t think you’ll see Clarke working his way to a front line starter, but with just marginal improvement on his change, he could be an effective #3 starter. He’s already 23, though, so his excellent control and sinking fastball/slider combo could quickly make him a solid back-end starter.
The thing to watch with Clark will be whether he continues on the starting path. If he ends up moving to the bullpen, Clarke could be a dominant reliever with excellent control, that slider could be a strikeout pitch, and a heavy fastball that would be hard to drive.
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