Interview with Atlanta Braves reliever prospect Corbin Clouse

Benjamin Chase: Take me back to draft day. You were selected by the Braves in the 27th round. Did you know they would be calling your name, or was that a surprise? How many teams had you had conversations with before the draft?

Corbin Clouse: Draft day was actually a really fun day for me. I wasn’t really stressing out about it because I still had two years of college baseball left.

I knew I wasn’t going to get drafted the first two days, and the third day of the draft just happened to be the day my friend’s family was baling their hay field and I always help with that because it’s fun and a good workout, so right when I got to his house the Tigers started calling me, and it was kind of cool to actually think I could be drafted that day. Then the calls totally stopped and I lost faith.

About an hour later, my friend Brandon White who the Braves took earlier in the day called me and said congratulations the Reds just drafted you. I was super confused because I hadn’t talked to the Reds at all really. Then the Braves area scout was calling me while I was talking to Brandon and he said that the Braves just drafted me and I didn’t know what to say. I explained to the scout what had just happened and he said no I was just drafted by the Braves.

I was on top of the world. I asked what was next for me to do that day and he said nothing so I continued to bale hay. I think I was the first person to ever bale hay with a smile on their face. I was very happy that day to say the least. Not many teams knew about me in college. I only went to one scout day and that was in Detroit. I believe I only filled out two questionnaires as well. That being the Braves and Tigers. The Reds had some interest but not much.

Chase: The Braves are known by places like Baseball America and MLB Pipeline for their active social media fan base when it comes to prospects. What has been your experience in interacting with that fan base?

Clouse: The fan base on social media is amazing. I really try not to get caught up in all of it because it’s just social media, and that goes for the good and the bad things said. End of the day, I just need to go out and play the way I play. It is really good to see a fan base accept a late round guy out of a small town and college and root for him, so to that I say thank you, Braves fans!

Chase: In college, you threw a pair of fastballs along with your trademark slider and a curve, with a change making a rare appearance, per one scouting report found on the interwebs. What is it about your sinker and slider that makes them so effective against hitters on both sides of the plate? Any particular odd grip that you learned along the way that has helped or just the way it’s always broken out of your hand?

Clouse: I really don’t have an answer as to why they are so effective. I know my two-seam runs and dives a lot, so much that sometimes I can’t control it, and my slider is a late breaker if you will. I do have two different sliders that I will throw though, one being a loopy curveball almost and the other being a hard sharp late one usually for strike three. They are both thrown with the same grip one I just get more on top of.

My changeup has made some huge strides though. A ton of credit goes to Touki for showing me his grip. I changed it a tiny bit because my hands aren’t huge like his but it works for me. I have never had faith in a changeup as much as I do the one he taught me.

Chase: Were you prepared to move to the bullpen as a pro with the Braves, or did you hold out any hopes to start?

Clouse: I figured I was going to be a bullpen arm when I was drafted. I liked starting, but looking over the amount of arms the Braves had just drafted before me was eye-opening. I knew I wasn’t going to be a starting pitcher but I knew I had a chance to be one of the main bullpen arms.

Moving to the bullpen was an easy adjustment because of the way the Braves took care of me. I would go throw my one or two innings and I would have two to three days off in Danville. Then I got promoted to Rome and I would get one to two days off. They made the transition easy for me.

Chase: You finish your first season on the Rome Braves team that was selected as Baseball America’s team of the year, with some pretty exceptional talent. Was that an intimidating environment to step into, or did you feel at home as part of that clubhouse. Also, as a reliever, how much did you watch the starters when they had such a deep rotation for that team with Max Fried, Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Touki Toussaint, Patrick Weigel (until he was promoted), and Ricardo Sanchez?

Clouse: The first day I got to Rome was unbelievable. I get there at like 4:30 when the game is at 7:00, and I’m thinking to myself that they won’t pitch me today, they’ll let me figure this league out for a day. Next thing I know it’s the top of the ninth and I’m in the game when it’s tied up. My heart was pumping insanely fast but I put up a zero and we scored in the bottom of the ninth and I got the win. The team was really happy and all congratulated me and that was just awesome. They accepted me right away and I felt at home for sure.

Randy Ingle and the rest of that coaching staff were amazing. I’m not surprised we were the team of the year because that coaching staff was incredible. Then you look at the players we had on that team and it’s no surprise we won the championship either. The starting six we had was so much fun to watch. They each pitch differently but listening and talking to them about pithing was awesome. I learned a bunch from that group. I was shocked when I first got to Rome and those were the starting pitchers. I felt spoiled to able to watch them everyday and take bits and pieces from them and put it in my arsenal.

So to answer your question, I watched them as much as I could to better myself. I tried to be around them all the time because sometimes all it takes is one sentence someone says that makes perfect sense and it could make you better mentally or physically.

Chase: This season opened up with a bit of “frustration” as you allowed runs in four straight outings after a scoreless initial outing of the season. You then rattled off a run of 23 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. How do you handle that up and down in the game, especially when it comes so quickly, or is that simply something that is the mentality of the bullpen?

Clouse: The beginning of the season was a true test for me. It was extremely hard fighting all the thoughts going through my head. But how I got out of it was looking at the positives and totally forgetting the negatives. I remember we were playing at St. Lucie and I gave up two runs and I had a bunch of text messages on my phone saying its okay, you’ll figure it out. In my head I’m thinking what are you talking about? I didn’t walk anybody tonight! That’s awesome! Then I started figuring it all out and putting consecutive zeroes up and was rolling. My teammates did save me a handful of times during that stretch though. I’d get guys on base and someone would come in to save me so I definitely cant say the streak was all done by myself.

Chase: You were able to have success both at the High-A and AA levels this season, but one thing notable that “concerned” those doing the “stat line scouting” thing was a rise in your walk rate. What do you think was behind that? I know you had worked with Rome pitching coach Dan Meyer on your mechanics in 2016, so were there some blips there, were you having some issues with the pitches breaking, different strike zones, something else?

Clouse: I walk a lot of people. There is no doubt about it. I don’t stress out about my high walk rate though because it is how you handle the next guy that determines if that was a good or bad walk. One thing I realized this year is that there are good walks and bad walks. The beginning of the year I had some really bad walks. I got to Double-A and still had some bad walks but I also had some good walks. More good walks then bad if you ask me. That’s just part of baseball and part of how I pitch currently. I’m nowhere near perfect, but I can tell you right now that I’m working to be. I’ll never get there but that’s not going to stop me.

Chase: Now, some more lighthearted baseball stuff – Favorite team growing up? Favorite players?

Clouse: Favorite team growing up was the Braves. My dad (Dave Clouse) signed after college to play with the Braves and made it up to Triple A I believe. My favorite players were Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz. I’ve never been to an Atlanta game being from Michigan but I’ve always wanted to go. John Smoltz grew up around where I grew up, and he and my dad were actually friends that played together and against each other.

Chase: Who is the best player you’ve played with? Best pitcher?

Clouse: The best player I’ve played with is a tough question. Being with the Braves and looking at all the talent I have played with is unbelievable. I’d have to say the best player would be Acuna, Riley, or Jackson. These dudes just love to see how far they can hit the ball. Shagging BP for them is really fun actually when they keep it in the park. Also watching Jackson and Acuna hit it over the hitters eye in Kissimmee during BP was incredible. The fact they can generate that kind of power off a BP thrower and hit it that high and far all while being so young shouldn’t be possible.

The best pitcher I’ve player with would have to be either Mike Soroka, Kolby Allard, or Touki. Mike and Kolby are so smart when it comes to pitching. You can ask them anything and they could talk all day about it. They each have their own style of pitching and being able to watch them up close is a treat for me. Touki just has some nasty stuff. His curveball mesmerizes me every time I watch it before he goes in. In my eyes it is the best curveball I’ve ever seen.

Chase: Who has been the hitter that’s “intimidated” you the most in the batter’s box so far?

Clouse: To be honest I don’t get intimidated on the mound. When I’m out there I don’t hear the crowd or teammates cheering. All I’m focused on is the catcher. I trust my stuff on the mound to get anyone out. I will tell you that one of the best hitters I’ve faced is Nick Senzel. I believe I faced him 3 times this year and he was no easy out. I did manage to strike him out once but he got me back for a double and a walk.

Chase: Now, to non-baseball stuff – when you’re not on the field, what are you doing?

Clouse: When I’m not on the field I am most likely watching Netflix and or eating hummus with pita chips. I don’t really go out much because I hate spending money and I feel like if I leave the house it is to go buy something.

Chase: You’re headed to the Arizona Fall League and will hear this in interviews there, so I’ll ask now – In and Out, Five Guys, or other?

Clouse: Never had In and Out, had Five Guys twice this summer and it has been amazing both times. Probably will be going back soon once I find one. I’m not a huge fast food guy. I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I had Taco Bell which is sad because I love Taco Bell.

Next: 2017 Minor League Awards team

Chase: I noted last spring that your girlfriend is a pitcher as well. Be honest, who’s got the better pitch mix?

Clouse: Well she is a two-time All-American so she definitely takes this question. I watched her pitch for the first time in late February and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Strikeout after strikeout. But she is like me sometimes with the walks. She had a great career at Davenport University. I want to say she holds almost all the pitching records there. I know for a fact she holds the strikeout records for a single season and career with both some insane amounts.