Taylor Clarke

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Clarke continued his steady, consistent progression through the system in 2018, logging a career-high 152 innings while pitching in a difficult Triple-A Pacific Coast League environment. He has thrown at least 145 innings in each of the past three seasons. He was in consideration for a callup at multiple points in 2018, but the club opted for more veteran options.
  
  Scouting Report: Clarke is much the same pitcher as always: a strike-thrower with good pitchability and solid, if unspectacular, stuff. His fastball velocity ticked up a bit in 2018, topping out around 95 mph and sitting closer to 93, and coaches say his changeup improved, though still remains his second-best secondary offering behind his slider. Clarke took his preparation and game-planning seriously, and with his above-average command was able to attack hitters with a purpose. He could benefit even further from the more-detailed data he would receive in the majors.
  
  The Future: Depending on how things shake out, Clarke could have a chance to compete for a big league rotation spot and is knocking on the door after being added to the 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2018
  Clarke didn't allow a run in his 2015 pro debut, then advanced to Double-A Jackson in his first full season in 2016. He then opened at Double-A in 2017 and served as the club's best starter before a promotion to Triple-A Reno, where he acquitted himself well in a challenging environment. Nothing about Clarke overwhelms hitters. His fastball ranges from 89-94 mph and sits 92-93 with average life, good downhill angle and some deception from his high three-quarters release point. His solid-average slider is his best secondary pitch, and he's continuing to refine his changeup and curveball. Clarke is able to survive with four average pitches because of his consistent command and ability to repeat his delivery. Coaches rave about his mound presence and competitiveness. He can come across as quiet but he doesn't seem intimidated. His walk rate ticked up from 2016, but scouts continue to believe in his ability to command the ball and his overall pitching acumen. Clarke will return to Reno to start 2018 while he waits for a need to arise at the big league level. Once Clarke gets there, he projects as a reliable and durable back-end starter.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #7 prospect in 2017
  Clarke made some impressive moves in 2016, his first full season. After starting at low Class A Kane County he passed through high Class A Visalia and reached Double-A Mobile before the end of May. He pitched well at all three levels, going 12-9, 3.31 with 118 strikeouts and just 33 walks. Clarke sports a solid, muscular frame, with his best attributes on the mound being solid pitchability, command of three pitches and the ability to work up and down in the zone. He gets good downhill plane from a fastball that sits 91-94 mph and touches 96. He gets angle with cut action. Clarke's plus command allows his fastball to play up, and he moves it around to change eye levels. His best secondary pitch is a solid-average slider with downer action that flashes plus. An average changeup rounds out the repertoire. He had Tommy John surgery in college, so the D-backs took it cautiously in his first pro season. His 27 starts in 2016 showed he could take the ball every fifth day. He's very competitive and may be ready for Triple-A Reno in 2017. He profiles as a No. 4 starter.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #14 prospect in 2016
  Clarke began his college career at Towson but missed his sophomore year after having Tommy John surgery, then transferred to the College of Charleston for his final year after Towson nearly cut its baseball program. He signed for $801,900 before heading to short-season Hillsboro, where he worked in relief to break into pro ball slowly. Clarke helped the Hops win the Northwest League title while not allowing a run in 23 regular-season and playoff innings. He has a solid, muscular build, coupled with a solid threepitch mix and above-average control, which is why he will move back to the rotation in 2016. He gets good angle on his fastball and pitches with deception, and his fastball sits at 90-93 mph as a starter and peaks at 96 out of the bullpen. Clarke's advanced fastball command allows him to move the ball in and out and to change the batter's eye level. His above-average slider has downer action from a high threequarters slot, which he uses to expand the zone. He also deals an average changeup that he didn't need to use much in Hillsboro. He repeats his delivery and effectively executes his game plan. Clarke projects as a No. 4 starter and will next head to low Class A Kane County in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #118 prospect in 2015 draft
  Clarke's collegiate career began at Towson, where he logged eight solid starts as a freshman. He had Tommy John surgery during his sophomore year, and transferred to the College of Charleston when Towson nearly cut its program in 2013. At Charleston, the righthander has thrived. He has developed above-average command of his potent three-pitch arsenal, with the ability to pitch off of his fastball. Clarke's fastball now sits at 90-94 and touches 95, a modest jump from the 88-92 he showed as a junior. His slider is his best secondary, thrown with power in the upper 80s and glove-side cut. Clarke has exceptional command of both pitches, with the ability to pound his slider to the back foot of lefties, punch it through the front door of righties, or compete at the heart of the strike zone. He has tremendous feel for his fastball above the hitter's belt, and is comfortable working to both sides. At 6-foot-4, Clarke has a thick, muscly build, giving him the look of a Major League starter. Clarke has some feel for a changeup, but uses it sparingly right now, and scouts see the development of his changeup as the only thing separating him from eventually earning a spot in a big league rotation.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #20 prospect in 2017
  Clarke didn't allow a run while working as a reliever in the Northwest League during his 2015 pro debut then advanced to Double-A in 2016. He opened this season back in the SL and appeared bored at times after making 38 combined starts at the Double-A level. Pushed to Triple-A Reno in August, he scuffled to a 4.81 ERA in six starts. Clarke profiles as a No. 4 starter with his combination of solid stuff, control of four pitches, an athletic delivery and durability. He works primarily with a plus 92-95 mph fastball and above-average mid-80s slider, but he also throws a changeup and curveball to combat offhand batters. Clarke's changeup shows nice fading action and earns average grades, while his downer curve is more of an early-count pitch.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #6 prospect in 2015
  After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2012, Clarke transferred from Towson when it looked like the school's baseball program would be eliminated. He thrived after transferring to College of Charleston and was the Colonial Athletic Association's pitcher of the year in 2015. The Diamondbacks began Clarke's career in the bullpen to limit his workload, and he dominated by tossing 23 scoreless innings, counting the playoffs. He commands a fastball that touched 96 mph and threw it for strikes to both sides of the plate. He showed what one evaluator called a "filthy" slider with great depth. Clarke had some feel for his changeup as an amateur but was mostly a two-pitch pitcher out of the Hillsboro bullpen. "He shouldn't be (in the NWL). He was absolutely dominating," one manager said. "The ball comes out of his hand like a man who knows he should be at a higher level." The long-term plan for Clarke calls for him to start. He is dealing with Bell's palsy, a condition that causes weakness in facial muscles, but it does not affect his play on the field.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Clarke has thrown well after a rough April, logging a 3.80 ERA in his past 13 starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He’s shown more consistent high-end velocity this year, topping out in the 95-96 mph range. His slider remains his best secondary pitch and both his curveball and changeup received some complimentary reviews. Still, he lacks a true putaway pitch, making most hesitant to call him more than a No. 5 starter.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Clarke made some impressive moves in 2016, his first full season. After starting at low Class A Kane County he passed through high Class A Visalia and reached Double-A Mobile before the end of May. He pitched well at all three levels, going 12-9, 3.31 with 118 strikeouts and just 33 walks. Scouting Report: Clarke sports a solid, muscular frame, with his best attributes on the mound being solid pitchability, command of three pitches and the ability to work up and down in the zone. He gets good downhill plane from a fastball that sits 91-94 mph and touches 96. He gets angle with cut action. Clarke's plus command allows his fastball to play up, and he moves it around to change eye levels. His best secondary pitch is a solid-average slider with downer action that flashes plus. An average changeup rounds out the repertoire.
  
  The Future: Clarke had Tommy John surgery in college, so the D-backs took it cautiously in his first pro season. His 27 starts in 2016 showed he could take the ball every fifth day. He's very competitive and may be ready for Triple-A Reno in 2017. He profiles as a No. 4 starter.