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Clippard
Emerging In Trenton
by Mike Ashmore
July 20, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat
Tyler Clippard's stock has risen each year in the Yankees
organization, going from 28th to 10th in the Baseball
America ratings over the past three seasons. His
unorthodox pitching motion has netted him 105 strikeouts
this season, second in the Eastern League, and he's been
named the league's Pitcher of the Week twice in the past
three weeks.
Not bad for a kid they took a chance on just three years
ago.
Clippard spent the first four years of his life in Kentucky
before moving to Florida, with a six-month stop in Dover,
Del. stuck in the middle. Unable to crack the varsity team
during his first two years at Palm Harbor High, the
self-described late bloomer transferred to Mitchell High for
his junior year. But it was what happened before his senior
year that altered the course of his career, as Clippard was
kicked off the team for drinking and driving.
"I think about that a lot," Clippard said.
"It was a bad thing, but it ultimately turned into a
good thing and helped me develop as a person and as a
pitcher."
With hopes of being selected in the first few rounds of the
draft dashed, he spent draft day at the house of his good
friend, Ryan Harvey, who ended up going sixth overall to the
Chicago Cubs and signed for $2.4 million. The seven figure
contracts are long gone by the time the ninth round comes
along, and that's where Clippard was picked by the Yankees.
The $75,000 check Clippard received as his signing bonus
paled in comparison to that of Harvey's, but at least he
knew it would be well taken care of.
"My dad's a financial planner, he took care of all that
for me," Clippard said with a laugh. "Basically,
all I got was my car."
Money aside, getting drafted also provided a second chance
of sorts for the now 21-year-old starter. It was a chance
that he made the most of, striking out 56 batters and
walking just five during his first professional season with
the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2003.
He's progressed through the levels as expected, making the
jump from Single-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton this year. A
much better pitcher than his 4-10 record and 4.17 ERA would
indicate, it was his one game jump to Triple-A Columbus last
year that he credits as giving his career a boost.
"It was awesome," he said. "Getting to pitch
one inning up there and then getting to see all the guys
leave to go to the big leagues after that was a real eye
opener. It was a confidence builder and a real good
experience as a whole."
After losing nine of his first 11 decisions, he's been
nothing short of spectacular as of late, allowing just four
earned runs in his last 33.1 innings of work and coming
within six outs of a perfect game in May.
Thoughts of the future have crossed his mind, with Clippard
setting a goal of reaching the big leagues by 2007. As with
any Yankees prospect, he hasn't ruled out the possibility of
that Major League debut coming in something other than
pinstripes.
"You always think about the possibility of that,"
he said. "But you can't really worry about it, you just
have to do your job and whatever happens, happens."
Today, "Clip" is doing sprints on the warning
track, his iPod serving as the only company he needed one
day after his second straight start with 11 strikeouts. But
don't let that fool you, as he's endeared himself to
teammates and the coaching staff with that strong work
ethic. Thunder manager Bill Masse has long praised his
development this year, saying he's been working smarter in
hitters counts.
It looks like Tyler Clippard has smartened up in all aspects
of his life, and that's just one more reason to root for him
to achieve his big league dreams.
Thunder Notes: Pitcher Danny Borrell was placed on the
disabled list with what the team is calling left elbow
soreness. It is feared he may have torn a ligament, which
would likely end the 27-year-old's career. Replacing Borrell
on the roster is Matt Childers, a pitcher sent down from
Triple-A Columbus. Childers has big league experience with
the Braves and the Brewers...Masse lost another one of his
starters, as Jeff Karstens was called up to Columbus. His
roster spot was taken by Jason Jones, a pitcher selected in
the 4th round of the 2004 draft by the Yankees. He was 9-2
with a 2.55 ERA in Single-A Tampa at the time of the
transaction.
For Past Articles: MikeAshmore.com
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