Matt Clement
| IP | 1412 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.475 |
| WHIP | 1.399 |
| BB/9 | 4.143 |
| SO/9 | 7.757 |
- Full name Matthew Paul Clement
- Born 08/12/1974 in Butler, PA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Butler
- Debut 09/06/1998
- Drafted in the 3rd round (86th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 1993.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: Clement capped his steady but acclaimed rise through the Padres system by winning two games in his first big league trial in September. He has pitched at each stop in the Padres system but has been promoted before the end of the season in each of his five professional seasons. He has also been amazingly durable--he's never missed a start in compiling a 52-38 minor league record. Strengths: Padres farm director Jim Skaalan managed Kevin Brown for almost two years in the minor leagues and feels the comparisons between Clement and the former Padres righthander are valid. Clement's top pitch is a heavy, sinking 93 mph fastball that he uses confidently and aggressively. His fastball's effectiveness has limited opponents to 34 home runs in 124 starts. Clement's slider is also a plus pitch; his changeup is progressing but he needs to throw it more often to master it. Much has been written about Clement's aggressiveness. He led the minor leagues by hitting 30 batters with pitches last season. The HBP total was nothing new--Clement hit 21, 18 and 18 in his previous three seasons. Interestingly, Clement did not hit a single hitter in 14 big league innings. Weaknesses: The Padres feel Clement pressed much of last year trying to justify his prospect status and impending callup. They contend his control problems--he also walked 85 and threw 18 wild pitches--resulted more from overthrowing than anything fundamentally wrong with his mechanics. After his first big league appearance, Clement became more relaxed and pitched within himself. The Future: Many of the stars who helped the Padres reach the World Series are gone, with none leaving a bigger void than Brown. A healthy Clement is a lock to pick up Brown's spot in the Padres rotation this season. If he can match Brown's 12-9, 3.35 effort as a 24-year-old rookie in 1989, the club will be more than satisfied.
