Mike Clevinger

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #7 prospect in 2016
  The Angels drafted Clevinger in the fourth round in 2011 and paid him $250,000 a few days before the August signing deadline after he put together a big summer in the Cape Cod League. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012, derailing the start to his professional career, and he struggled to get back on track. By the time the Indians acquired him in exchange for Vinnie Pestano in August 2014, he looked like little more than a lottery ticket. Just a year later, Cleveland appears to be close to cashing in. Clevinger led all Indians minor leaguers with 145 strikeouts in 2015 and emerged as the ace of a strong rotation at Double-A Akron. He was promoted to Triple-A Columbus for the playoffs and threw 15 1/3 scoreless innings, while helping the Clippers win the International League title. Clevinger was well regarded coming out of junior college and further impressed scouts in the Cape Cod League before signing with the Angels. But his mechanics changed in the minor leagues and his control suffered. The Indians helped him get back to throwing the way he did as an amateur, and he took off. Clevinger's fastball sits in the low to mid-90s, and he's been clocked up to 97 mph. His hard slider is his best secondary offering, and he also mixes in a changeup and a curveball. Though his control has never been especially good, he has the athleticism necessary to repeat his delivery and throw enough strikes. The Indians' most surprising breakout player in 2015, Clevinger will attempt to repeat that success in 2016 as he returns Columbus.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #22 prospect in 2015
  The Angels paid Clevinger $250,000 a few days before the August signing deadline in 2011 after he had a big summer in the Cape Cod League. His career stalled after having Tommy John surgery in 2012. The Indians remained intrigued and asked for Clevinger when the Angels came looking for bullpen help, and Cleveland got him straight up for righthander Vinnie Pestano in August 2014. The Indians felt like Clevinger had gotten away from the mechanics he'd shown on the Cape, in particular lowering his arm slot. After getting his delivery more over the top, he started showing velocity up to 97 mph at high Class A Carolina. He's a good athlete on the mound and has a feel for spinning the ball, showing three secondary pitches with solid-average upside in his curveball, slider and changeup. the Indians like his potential to remain in the rotation and will continue to develop him there. He'll move up to Double-A Akron in 2015.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #17 prospect in 2014
  The Angels mined Florida junior colleges successfully for years--see Pat Corbin, Howie Kendrick and Will Smith, among others--and Clevinger could be the latest. He also might be the last, now that Tom Kotchman, signing scout for the aforementioned trio, has left the organization to work for the Red Sox. Clevinger had emerged as the top starter prospect in the Angels system before he went down with an elbow injury in 2012 that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound late in 2013 and remains one of the system's few prospective starters. Clevinger has shown four potential average pitches with a 91-93 mph fastball and potentially solid-average changeup, curveball and slider. He also has shown the ability to cut his fastball. Clevinger's control was shaky in his brief return to the mound in 2013 in part because he struggled to repeat his landing point as he struggled to stay direct to the plate. His delivery has some effort to it, leading some scouts to see him as a future reliever, but in a system in need of starters, he'll get every chance to remain in the rotation. He should get a second try at the low Class A Midwest League in 2014.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #4 prospect in 2013
  Clevinger boosted his draft stock in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2010 before signing for a slightly above-slot $250,000 in the 2011 draft. He made a strong impression in low Class A to start the 2012 season, but he made just eight starts before needing Tommy John surgery. Clevinger has four pitches that grade as average or better. He throws an 89-93 mph fastball from a three-quarters arm slot and has reached 96 as a reliever. He gets plenty of swings and misses with his secondary stuff, most notably an above-average 81-84 mph slider with wide break. His changeup is average and shows the potential to give him another plus pitch. His curveball is average as well, though he tips it off by throwing it from a slightly higher release point. Some scouts think Clevinger tries to get too many swings and misses on chase pitches early in the count rather than pitching off his quality fastball. His delivery creates deception, though it's an aggressive motion and he tends to overthrow when he gets jacked up. He has average control but could use better command. Clevinger has the repertoire to be a mid-rotation starter, but concerns about his durability may make a relief role more likely. He may not return to game action until late in the 2013 season.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #16 prospect in 2012
  Clevinger transferred from The Citadel following his freshman year to attend Seminole State (Fla.) JC, returning him closer to his Jacksonville home and making him eligible for the 2011 draft. He also shifted from the rotation to the bullpen, where he racked up 52 strikeouts in 32 innings as a closer for the Trojans. The Angels grabbed Clevinger in the fourth round and signed him for $250,000 in mid-August following his successful run in the Cape Cod League, where he fanned 25 in 20 innings. Clevinger showed high-end velocity in three brief relief outings for Orem, ranging from 92-96 mph. He backed his fastball with a plus hard slider and a changeup that has shown flashes of excellence. He missed instructional league with arm fatigue. Clevinger could move quickly as a reliever, but Los Angeles hasn't ruled out the prospect of starting. He joins sixth-rounder Austin Wood and ninth-rounder Nick Mutz as power righthanders from the 2011 draft who don't have a lot of mileage on their arms. All three could begin the 2012 season together in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #14 prospect in 2016
  The Indians acquired Clevinger from the Angels in August 2014, and he revived his career with Cleveland last season. He built on that success this season. He excelled in the IL, headlining the Columbus rotation and tying for the league lead with 11 wins. He made his major league debut in May and took on a larger role down the stretch as the Indians dealt with injuries. Clevinger throws his fastball in the mid-90s and can run the pitch up to 97 mph. He has a hard slider that can be a swing-and-miss offering but also often creates groundballs. His changeup is a solid offering, and he also occasionally mixes in a curveball. Clevinger's control has been problematic since his junior-college days, but the Indians helped him make mechanical adjustments that have helped him throw more strikes. His command probably won't ever be exemplary, but he has a full starter's arsenal and is now throwing enough strikes to stick in a big league rotation.
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  Ranked Eastern League #17 prospect in 2015
  Acquired from the Angels in the trade that sent Vinnie Pestano west, Clevinger made his mark on the EL this season. The big-bodied righthander used a fastball that sat in the low 90s and topped at 95 mph with a touch of sink to rank second in the league with 145 strikeouts and first with a .219 opponent average. He couples the pitch with a changeup first and a slider second. Both pitches project as average. He adjusted his delivery some this year to utilize his legs more and gain more power. Scouts also laud Clevinger's athleticism on the mound and a mentality that allows him to go right after hitters without fear. He's a little bit older, but the Indians have an excellent track record of acquiring pitching talent in trades, e.g. Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer, and molding them into rotation contributors.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Clevinger boosted his draft stock in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2010 before signing for a slightly above-slot $250,000 in the 2011 draft. He made a strong impression in low Class A to start the 2012 season, but he made just eight starts before needing Tommy John surgery. Scouting Report: Clevinger has four pitches that grade as average or better. He throws an 89-93 mph fastball from a three-quarters arm slot and has reached 96 as a reliever. He gets plenty of swings and misses with his secondary stuff, most notably an above-average 81-84 mph slider with wide break. His changeup is average and shows the potential to give him another plus pitch. His curveball is average as well, though he tips it off by throwing it from a slightly higher release point. Some scouts think Clevinger tries to get too many swings and misses on chase pitches early in the count rather than pitching off his quality fastball. His delivery creates deception, though it's an aggressive motion and he tends to overthrow when he gets jacked up. He has average control but could use better command. The Future: Clevinger has the repertoire to be a mid-rotation starter, but concerns about his durability may make a relief role more likely. He may not return to game action until late in the 2013 season.