Zach Clark
Clark pitching for Baltimore Orioles extended spring training in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1983-04-10) April 10, 1983 (age 40)
Wilmington, Delaware
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2013, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last appearance
May 1, 2013, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average16.20
Strikeouts1
Teams

Zachary Higgins Clark (born April 10, 1983) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013.

Career

Clark graduated from Newark High School in Newark, Delaware, in 2001.[1] He then attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he played college baseball for the UMBC Retrievers.

Baltimore Orioles

He went undrafted after graduating in 2006, and signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent, receiving a $1,000 signing bonus.[2] By 2010, Clark was promoted to the Norfolk Tides of the Class AAA International League, the highest level of minor league baseball.[1]

Clark posted a strong breakout season in 2012 for the Bowie Baysox of the Class AA Eastern League and Norfolk, posting a 15-7 win–loss record with a 2.79 earned run average between the two teams.[3] The Orioles added Clark to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season.[4]

Clark began the 2013 season with Norfolk.[5] On May 1, 2013, Clark was called up to the Orioles, where he was expected to be a part of the bullpen.[6] Clark made his major league debut that same night against the Mariners in Seattle, coming on in relief of Wei-Yin Chen in the bottom of the 5th inning.[7] He went 1+2⁄3 innings in his debut, allowing three hits and three earned runs. He was designated for assignment on May 4, 2013.[2] On May 6, he was outrighted to Bowie, where he began developing a knuckleball.[8] He experienced a hamstring injury, and struggled for the remainder of the season. Clark became a free agent at the end of the season, and signed a new minor league contract with the Orioles.[9]

The Orioles did not assign Clark to a minor league affiliate at the start of the 2014 season, as he worked on his knuckleball in extended spring training. In June, the Orioles opted not to assign Clark to the Aberdeen Ironbirds of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, and instead released him.

Camden Riversharks

Clark signed with the Camden Riversharks of the unaffiliated Atlantic League of Professional Baseball a few days later, and scrapped the knuckleball.[10]

Scouting career

After retiring from professional baseball, Clark was hired as a scout for the Houston Astros. He was let go in 2017 as part of restructuring by the organization.[11]

He was soon after hired by the Tampa Bay Rays' scouting department, and currently serves as an Area Supervisor scout.

References

  1. ^ a b Hurlock, Buddy (June 19, 2008). "Clark's repertoire growing in minors". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. C.6. Retrieved December 5, 2012. (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b Encina, Eduardo A. (May 4, 2013). "UMBC product Zach Clark realizes it's not easy sticking in the major leagues". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. ^ Kubatko, Roch (October 22, 2012). "School of Roch: Looking back on Zach Clark's season". Masnsports.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  4. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (October 31, 2011). "Orioles select contract of UMBC product Zach Clark". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  5. ^ Waldman, Tyler (May 7, 2013). "UMBC Grad Zach Clark Recalled by Orioles - Sports - Catonsville, MD Patch". Catonsville.patch.com. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. ^ Connolly, Dan (April 30, 2013). "Ex-UMBC player Zach Clark to be activated for Orioles tonight in Seattle". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Twitter / FrederickKeys: Former Keys P Zack Clark takes". Twitter.com. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ^ Connolly, Dan (May 6, 2013). "Zach Clark sent to AA Bowie". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ Baltimore Sun (January 7, 2014). "Orioles re-sign right-handers Eddie Gamboa and Zach Clark to minor league deals". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  10. ^ "Steve Melewski: No hard feelings: Zach Clark on the end of his nine-year run with the Orioles organization". MASNsports. June 25, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  11. ^ "missing".

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