Taylor Clarke #45

Married to Taylor Clarke...has twin boys, Bryce and Brody...Has dealt with right-side facial paralysis since birth, a weakness of the muscles that can cause some of his speech to be slurred…he says the ailment has “never been an issue.”...Attended Towson University from 2012-13 and College of Charleston from 2014-15...transferred to COC after Towson eliminated its baseball program in 2013 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery...Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley found funding to save the sport but Clarke already started the transfer process...Became the highest drafted player (No. 76 overall) from COC as a redshirt junior (previous: Brett Gardner No. 109)...Was a Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger All-American, Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year and Golden Spikes Award semifinalist...was also a National Pitcher of the Year finalist with Carson Fulmer (Vanderbilt University) and Tyler Jay (University of Illinois).

2025

In his third season with the Royals, in 51 games, went 1-1 with one save, a 3.25 ERA (20 ER in 55.1 IP), 0.85 WHIP, opponent .194 AVG, nine walks and 44 strikeouts...posted career highs in scoreless outings (40), WHIP and opponent AVG...Was one of two pitchers in the Majors to record 50+ appearances and allow nine walks or fewer (also: Tyler Rogers/SF-NYM, 81 G/7 BB)...Held righties to a .179 AVG (19-for-106) with four walks and 25 strikeouts...held lefties to a .211 AVG (19-for-90) OPS with five walks 19 strikeouts...With runners on base, limited hitters to a .231 AVG (15-for-65) with four walks and 15 strikeouts...Off his slider (39.8% usage), held hitters to a .153 AVG (11-for-72) with 21 strikeouts and a 33.1 whiff pct...Began the season with Triple-A Omaha and was selected on May 1...in 10 games, went 0-1 with a 4.40 ERA (seven ER in 14.1 IP), opponent .226 AVG, five walks and nine strikeouts.

2024

Clarke was traded to Milwaukee for RHP Ryan Brady and IF Cam Devanney on Dec. 14, 2023, and began Spring Training on the Brewers' 40-man roster...Began the year on the 15-day injured list after suffering right knee inflammation at the end of Spring Training, was not reinstated until May 15 and subsequently optioned to Triple-A Nashville, where he spent the rest of the season...While pitching for the Sounds, 15 of his 22 appearances were starts—although he only pitched more than 5.0 innings once—as he finished 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA (37 ER in 68.0 IP) and 56 strikeouts with just 17 walks...Was designated for assignment on July 3 and outrighted on July 7, but chose to remain with Milwaukee and finished the year in Nashville.

2023

Went 3-6 with a 5.95 ERA and three saves in a career-high 58 games (2 starts) with Kansas City...Struck out 65 batters in 59.0 innings...Notched saves on 9/15 vs. Houston, 9/16 vs. Houston and 9/23 at Houston...As a reliever retired 38 of 56 first batters faced (67.9%)...Stranded 13 of 18 inherited runners (72.2%)...Recorded a career-high 12 holds...Made his starts - both coming as an opener - on 4/21 at Los Angeles-AL (2ip, 1k) and 9/3 vs. Boston (1ip, 1k)...Was on the 15-day injured list from 8/4-8/17 with right elbow inflammation...Was traded to Milwaukee on 12/14 in exchange for RHP Ryan Brady and INF Cam Devanney.

2022

In 2022 with Kansas City, Clarke began the season with 91 consecutive batters faced before issuing a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on June 7, which ended a nine-pitch plate appearance…according to Elias, it was the fourth-longest such streak by batters faced to begin a season in Royals history...Clarke was one of three pitchers to issue no more than eight walks while making at least 45 appearances, along with Chris Martin (5 BB in 60 G) and All-Star Joe Mantiply (6 BB in 69 G)...He had 48 strikeouts and just eight walks for a 6.0 K/ BB ratio, which ranked 10th among qualified relievers...Clarke pitched in 44 of the Royals' first 109 games (40.4%) but made just three appearances after Aug. 7...he missed 46 games with a left oblique strain before a brief return but finished the season on the Injured List.

2021

Finished second among Diamondbacks in 2021 with a career-high 43 relief appearances, despite spending seven weeks on the Injured List from June 15-Aug. 4...Allowed three homers over his first seven appearances (9.1 IP) of the season, but allowed just one homer over his last 36 outings (34.0 IP) from April 21-Sept. 5, and had a stretch of 19 appearances from May 4-June 14 in which he pitched to a 2.37 ERA (5 ER in 19.0 IP)...After returning from a seven-week stay on the Injured List, he posted a 9.31 ERA (10 ER in 9.2 IP) in 13 outings, and was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Sept. 5...Did not allow an earned run in seven appearances (7.0 IP) at Reno, including his last five outings of the season.

2020

Was 3-0 with a 4.36 ERA (21 ER in 43.1 IP) in 12 games (5 starts) and a .217 opponent average in his second season with the D-backs...Went 1-0 with a 5.09 ERA (13 ER in 23.0 IP) as a starter and 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA (8 ER in 20.1 IP) in relief...Left-handers hit .185, compared to .252 in 2019...Retired all 9 batters faced on Aug. 7 @ Padres, the first D-back to toss 3.0+ perfect innings of relief since Patrick Corbin on Sept. 15, 2016 vs. Dodgers (3.0 IP).

2019

Went 5-5 with 1 save and a 5.31 ERA (50 ER in 84.2 IP) in 23 games (15 starts) over 4 stints in his fi rst Major League season with Arizona...Went 4-4 with a 5.88 ERA (42 ER in 64.1 IP) as a starter and 1-1 with 1 save and a 3.54 ERA (8 ER in 20.1 IP) in relief...Opponents hit just .186 (8-for-43) vs. his change-up...Hit his fi rst career home run on May 30 @ Rockies (off Kyle Freeland), becoming the second D-backs rookie pitcher to homer (also: 4 homers by Micah Owings in 2007)...Daughter, Bayley Marie, was born on July 27...Went 3-1 with a 6.63 ERA (27 ER in 36.2 IP) in 8 starts for Reno...Entered the season as the D-backs' No. 10 prospect by MLB.com and as having the Best Control in the system by Baseball America. 

2018

Went 13-8 with a 4.03 ERA, 125 strikeouts, 44 walks and a .254 opponent average in 27 starts for Triple-A Reno...Tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in wins, ranked third in innings (152.0) and was sixth in strikeouts...Went 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 9 walks over his final 8 starts after July 27...Was a non-roster invitee to his first Spring Training.