Brian Clark Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Brian Richard Clark
Born 04/27/1993 in Akron, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Kent State
Drafted in the 9th round (258th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2014 (signed for $151,400).

View Draft Report

Clark was a key bullpen arm as a freshman during Kent State's run to the College World Series and remained in that role as a sophomore. He moved to the rotation as a junior, and his draft value depends on whether teams project him as a starter or reliever. Clark performed well down the stretch and generated late helium as Kent State reached regional play. Early in the season his fastball sat 87-90 mph, but it was 89-92 late, touching 95. Clark's top secondary pitch is a slider that shows at least average potential but has been inconsistent. His changeup is a serviceable offering that will need to improve to stay in the rotation. He has shown enough strike-throwing ability to be tried as a starter and has the physique to start at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds.

Top Rankings

A physical, 6-foot-3 lefthander who worked out of the bullpen his first two years at Kent State, Clark moved into the rotation as a junior in 2014 and caught the attention of the White Sox, who made him a ninth-round pick. He spent most of his full-season debut at high Class A Winston-Salem in 2015 in the bullpen, and of his five starts, three occurred on Dash doubleheader days. Clark finished the season as a piggyback starter with 2015 first-rounder Carson Fulmer, and in his final seven relief outings, he averaged five innings and nearly 21 batters faced per appearance. Clark has a power repertoire, an ability to hold baserunners and a groundball profile--he did not allow a home run in 89 innings--but he also has below-average control. He pitches at 90-92 mph with sink and can dial his four-seam fastball up to 95. His slider has plus potential and sufficient late break to befuddle lefthanded batters. Improving his fringy changeup would give Clark a better chance to compete as a starter against righty-heavy lineups. He still is learning how to turn over a lineup multiple times, and he needs to do a better job repeating his delivery to improve his control, but he has the raw ingredients to fill a major league role, potentially as a starter.

Clark was a key bullpen arm as a freshman during Kent State's run to the College World Series and remained in that role as a sophomore. He moved to the rotation as a junior, and his draft value depends on whether teams project him as a starter or reliever. Clark performed well down the stretch and generated late helium as Kent State reached regional play. Early in the season his fastball sat 87-90 mph, but it was 89-92 late, touching 95. Clark's top secondary pitch is a slider that shows at least average potential but has been inconsistent. His changeup is a serviceable offering that will need to improve to stay in the rotation. He has shown enough strike-throwing ability to be tried as a starter and has the physique to start at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds.