The Boston Red Sox feature a farm system that is the envy of most MLB teams, due mostly to the top-end quality among its position players.
With a trio of budding superstars in outfielder Roman Anthony, second baseman Kristian Campbell, and shortstop Marcelo Mayer – who are ranked in the top 12 among all prospects and ready to join other recent graduates of the system at Fenway Park such as outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela and first baseman Triston Casas – Boston is on its way toward fielding a lineup teeming with homegrown players.
How about the pitching staff, though?
Don’t worry, though, since preliminary signs suggest Boston may have also discovered a treasure on the mound.
Ben Badler stated on the Baseball America podcast, “I think the Red Sox look like they may have done it again.”
Badler gushed about left-hander Brandon Clarke, who just made his professional debut with the Single-A Salem Red Sox, in an interview with colleague Chris Collazo. On April 10, his 22nd birthday, the 2024 fifth-round draft selection faced the Fredericksburg Nationals and struck out five of the 12 hitters he faced. Clarke would go on to pitch 2.1 innings against the Lynchburg Hillcats on April 16 and strike out six while giving up one run on two hits and a walk.
“I know that’s something they’ve sort of lamented in their system, so it’s cool for the Red Sox fans to see it on the pitching side,” Collazo remarked. “They’re looking for more weapons. Perhaps Clarke is a man they can get enthusiastic about.
Fifth-Round Pick Brandon Clarke Shows First-Round Skills
Given Clarke’s abilities, which appear to be far beyond fifth-round level, Badler was undoubtedly thrilled about him.
He did well in his second start as well, if you just saw him in the first one. However, I saw that first start, and you would have assumed he was selected in the first round,” Badler remarked.
In that initial start, every fastball he threw was between 95 and 99 mph. The slider was a wipeout pitch with four immaculate innings, 12 up, 12 down, and five batters struck out. He’s throwing it with force because it was in the upper 80s. It also had a lot of movement. can sort of adjust it in various ways to give it that sweepier movement and two-plane depth. It appears that he will continue to use that pitch as a massive swing-and-miss. Everything appeared simply amazing.
Collazo stated that he is especially impressed with the new breaking pitch in comparison to what Clarke displayed at last year’s pre-draft combine.
Collazo remarked, “that pitch alone makes me a lot more excited about what he can do, but I’m not exactly sure what the slider’s development timeline was.”
“He hit a curveball with a spin of 2700 to 2900 RPM and located the fastball and changeup nicely [at the combine].” It appears to be a pitch that will be very effective against both righties and lefties because he has taken those elements and added a slider, hard, upper 80s pitch that looks like hell and really caused some ugly, back-foot swings from right-handed batters.
Brandon Clarke Has Made Impressive Strides Since 2024 Draft
“He hit a curveball with a spin of 2700 to 2900 RPM and located the fastball and changeup nicely [at the combine].” It appears to be a pitch that will be very effective against both righties and lefties because he has taken those elements and added a slider, hard, upper 80s pitch that looks like hell and really caused some ugly, back-foot swings from right-handed batters.
But Collazo claimed Clarke’s control only seems to have improved since the combine. “His throwing strikes is super encouraging,” he said. As for the injury concerns? Only time will tell.
“But boy, that stuff is going to be really electric out of a bullpen if he can continue to throw strikes and if he can hold up as a starter,” Badler remarked. But it’s not as simple as saying, ‘Oh well, maybe he’s a four or five starter,’ if he can be a starter. This individual appears to have the ability to pitch … in the latter stages of a rotation.
