THE ROB STONE SPORTS SCOUTING REPORT:
Former Madison High Warhawks left-hander and current New York Yankees minor league prospect Ian Clarkin pitched what could perhaps be considered the best ballgame of his minor league career on Thursday, June 26.
On the mound and starting for the Single-A Charleston (South Carolina) River Dogs of the South Atlantic League, the crafty six-foot-two-inch, 205-pound port sider tossed six innings of shutout ball, while striking out seven, and allowing only one hit in a 9-0 victory over the Savannah (Georgia) Sand Gnats in a contest that was played in Charleston.
With the triumph, Clarkin saw his record improve to 3-3 with an earned run average of 3.36, 68 strikeouts in 61.2 innings, and an opponent batting average against of.239 so far this season.
New York selected Clarkin in the first round with the 33rd pick overall last June in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and signed him to a $1,650,100 contract.
Before the 2014 campaign, Clarkin was rated as the Yankees seventh-ranked prospect in their organization by the magazine and web page: http://www.baseballamerica.com.
MATUSZ PITCHING WELL FOR ORIOLES; WALTERS CALLED UP BY NATIONALS
Former University of San Diego (USD) Toreros pitcher and current Baltimore Orioles left-handed bullpen specialist Brian Matusz hurled 2 ⅓ shutout innings in relief, while also striking out two Washington Nationals batters, however, it wasn’t quite enough as Baltimore suffered a tough 6-2 defeat at the hands of Washington in an interleague matchup that was played at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 9th.
Matusz, a six-foot-four-inch, 200-pound southpaw, also struck out two hitters in 1 ⅓ innings of relief and once again allowed zero runs to cross home plate as the Orioles got a huge 5-4 victory in a ballgame that went twelve innings at home over the visiting Chicago White Sox in Baltimore on June 25.
Meanwhile, another former ball player for the USD Toreros, utility infielder/late-inning defensive replacement/pinch-hitter Zach Walters, was re-called by the Nationals on July 23.
Walters paid immediate dividends by delivering a base hit in the top half of the ninth inning off of Colorado Rockies, 41-year-old veteran closer Latroy Hawkins.
The six-foot-two-inch, 210-pound switch-hitter eventually came around to score from second base on an R.B.I. single to right field Jayson Werth.
It would prove to be not quite enough, though, as Washington would suffer a tough 6-4 loss at the hands of the Rockies in a contest that was played at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.
Rob Stone is a life-long resident of the Clairemont Mesa/Kearny Mesa area and is also a certified talent scout through Sports Management Worldwide. If you would like a professional scouting report on your budding son or daughter’s sports talent, feel free to contact me directly., rstone@smww.com, Sportsguyrob@att.net, or 1 (619) 241-6516.www.highvoltigesports.blogspot.com & www.smwwscout.com/rob-stone
