Trevor Clifton

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #28 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After an up-and-down season at Double-A Tennessee in 2017, Clifton mastered the level in 2018 and then put forth a 3.89 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. If he'd pitched enough innings, the figure would have put him in a tie for sixth place in the league.
  
  Scouting Report: Scouts who saw Clifton this year noted four pitches that were average at best, starting with a fastball in the low 90s that touched 94. The pitch had two-seam movement at the end of the velo band. His best offspeed pitch was an average slider thrown in the low 80s, and he backed it up with a changeup in the high 70s that he was unafraid to throw in right-on-right matchups. He has a curveball as well, but scouts noted its visibly different slot from his other pitches.
  
  The Future: Clifton is likely to return to Triple-A Iowa. His ceiling is in the back of a rotation, but as a pitcher who has been unprotected and unpicked in back-to-back Rule 5 drafts, there is still a ways to go to get to that ceiling.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #17 prospect in 2018
  Clifton had his best season in 2016 and his worst in 2017, but it didn't start off that way. Coming off a strong offseason in which he got into good physical shape, Clifton had seemed to grow into his now 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame. Clifton--who attended high school roughly 50 minutes from Tennessee Smokies Stadium--handled the jump to Double-A well, going 5-3, 2.84 in the first half, with 3.8 walks and 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. But Clifton lost all five decisions after the break while posting a 9.89 ERA and .376 opponent average. His breaking balls went backward in 2017; his slider morphed into a cutter, which helped him at times, but he lost the feel for his curveball, and neither pitch was working. Clifton also fell into pitch patterns with his changeup, so soon he trusted none of his secondary pitches, relying on his above-average 90-94 mph fastball that touches 95. His response was to work harder, and he hit a physical wall, exacerbating the problem. The Cubs shut Clifton down in late August 2017, hoping he can hit the reset button in the offseason.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #8 prospect in 2017
  Four of the first 36 players drafted in 2016 were members of the state of Tennessee's prep class of 2013. Clifton was one of just two preps to turn pro out of the Volunteer State that year, signing for $375,000. He had his breakout in 2016, earning high Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year honors while leading Myrtle Beach to the league title. He led the league in ERA (2.72), WHIP (1.16) and opponent average (.225) and won both of his playoff starts. With a body that elicits comparisons to Cubs reliever Justin Grimm, Clifton has filled out physically. Club officials put him closer to 6-foot-4, 220 pounds than his listed weight. With added strength has come more consistent velocity, namely an above-average fastball that ranges from 90-95 mph. Clifton throws both a slider and a curveball. His solid-average curve is the better pitch, with shape and depth at its best. When his arm slot floats, though, his breaking balls do as well. He has an average to above-average changeup and shackled lefthanded batters (.205/.280/.268) in 2016. He still needs to add polish, such as improving defensively and quickening his time to the plate. Clifton is the best bet the Cubs have for a homegrown rotation piece, though he's likely no more than a No. 4 starter. He will head to Double-A Tennessee, less than an hour from his hometown, in 2017.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #18 prospect in 2016
  Clifton was one of just two prep draftees from Tennessee to sign a pro deal in 2013, signing for a $375,000 bonus, and he opened 2015 in full-season ball as a 19-year-old. He's not as raw as he sounds. He's athletic and long-limbed but filling out physically. Closer to 215 pounds than his listed weight, Clifton added strength and definition to his now well-toned frame. He got better as the 2015 season progressed, improving the efficiency of his delivery, his direction to the plate and strike-throwing ability. He won five of his last six decisions at low Class A South Bend and can pitch with a plus fastball at his best. He sits at 91-95 mph range, and he flashes above-average promise with both of his secondary pitches. He doesn't repeat his release point on his curveball, which has tight spin and downer movement when right, and he's shown the ability to manipulate the shape and velocity on the pitch. It's ahead of his changeup, which has its moments as well, but he doesn't command it or his fastball well enough yet to make lefthanded batters consistently uncomfortable. Clifton is ready for takeoff now that his strength and coordination have caught up to his raw stuff. He will head to high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2016 and has as much upside as any Cubs minor league righthander outside of the Top 10.
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  Ranked Chicago Cubs #23 prospect in 2015
  Clifton was the only prep pitcher from Tennessee who signed out of the 2013 draft. He got a $375,000 bonus, even though he's the rawest arm among the state's top arms. The slender Clifton remains green, with obvious signs of progress. He has a quick arm, pumping his fastball in the 92-94 mph range and hitting 96 at his best. His inconsistency manifests itself in many ways, such as erratic fastball velocity. He's polished his mechanics but still has work to do, especially in honing his hard curveball and slider. He's flashed a changeup but all his secondary stuff has a ways to go. Clifton hasn't grown into his body yet, lacking coordination and "man strength." His mid-rotation starter ceiling ranks among the highest among the system's pitchers, though, with a big test coming in 2015 at low Class A South Bend.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #148 prospect in 2013 draft
  Many crosscheckers compare Clifton with Georgia prep Robert Tyler, as both are tall righthanders with big velocity and raw deliveries. Some scouts call Clifton's "ugly velocity" because of his mechanics, though it is consistent velocity. The thin 6-foot-4, 185-pounder has touched 97 mph and sits 92-93. Not everyone agrees about how much projection Clifton has, as some scouts say his frame is too thin to add much weight. He does show athleticism, which should help him make adjustments to his delivery with pro coaching, and hand speed, which portends more velocity and the ability to spin a breaking ball. He throws both a curveball and slider, with the curveball showing flashes of plus power at 80 mph. He has shown more confidence in his changeup, which has its moments. A veteran of USA Baseball's 16-and-under club that won gold in 2011, Clifton may be a tough sign. He is committed to Kentucky, which has a solid track record of developing pitchers.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #12 prospect in 2016
  Clifton had a breakthrough season in winning the Carolina League pitcher of the year award. He proceeded to win a start in both rounds of the postseason, including a six shutout innings in the championship series against a stacked Lynchburg lineup. "Clifton has put together a really solid year," Lynchburg's manager Mark Budzinski. "He has good command of three pitches and really knows how to pitch." Clifton's fastball sits 93-95 mph and he backs it up with an improving curveball and changeup, giving him three potentially above-average pitches. Scouts and managers like the way Clifton attacked hitters and kept them off-balance, especially with his breaking pitches.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Four of the first 36 players drafted in 2016 were members of the state of Tennessee's prep class of 2013. Clifton was one of just two preps to turn pro out of the Volunteer State that year, signing for $375,000. He had his breakout in 2016, earning high Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year honors while leading Myrtle Beach to the league title. He led the league in ERA (2.72), WHIP (1.16) and opponent average (.225). Scouting Report: With a body that evokes comparisons with Cubs righty reliever Justin Grimm, Clifton has filled out physically. Club officials put him closer to 6-foot-4, 220 pounds than his listed weight. With the added strength has come more consistent velocity, with an above-average fastball that ranges from 90-95 mph. While he throws both a slider and a curveball, Clifton's solid-average curve is the better pitch, with shape and depth at its best. When his arm slot floats, though, his breaking balls do as well. He has a solid-average to above-average changeup and shackled lefthanded batters (.205/.280/.268) in 2016. He still needs to add polish, such as improving defensively and quickening his time to the plate.
  
  The Future: Clifton is the best bet the Cubs have for a homegrown rotation piece, though he's likely no more than a No. 4 starter. He heads for Double-A Tennessee, less than an hour from his hometown, in 2017.