Darren Clarke (baseball)

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Darren Clarke
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Colorado Rockies — No. 99
Relief pitcher
Born: March 18, 1981 (1981-03-18) (age 27)
San Diego, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
Major League Baseball debut
May 18, 2007 for the Colorado Rockies
Selected MLB statistics
(through 2007)
Win-Loss     0-0
Earned run average     0.00
Strikeouts     1
Teams

Darren Lawrence Clarke (born March 18, 1981 in San Diego, California) is a right-handed pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. After graduating from high school, the Rockies selected him in the 33rd round of the June 1999 amateur draft but he did not sign with them, opting instead to attend South Florida Community College (SFCC). He was again selected by the Rockies in the 35th round of the June 2000 draft and was signed by them May 7, 2001 following his sophomore year at SFCC.[1] He stands 6 feet, 8 inches and his playing weight is listed at 235 pounds.[2]

Clarke spent the 2001 season as a starting pitcher for the Casper Rockies of the Pioneer League, compiling a 3-6 record and a 6.02 ERA in 14 starts. In 2002, he was with the Rockies' Northwest League affiliate, Tri-City Dust Devils where he was 4-3 with a 6.98 ERA. In 2003, he was in the starting rotation of the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League. In 27 games (25 starts) for the Tourists, he was 8-6 with a 3.83 ERA. The Rockies promoted him to their California League affiliate, Visalia Oaks, in 2004, but an elbow injury limited him to just 8 games with the Oaks (1-3, 7.39 ERA).[1][3]

In 2005, the Rockies converted Clarke into a relief pitcher and he began the season with their new California League affiliate in Modesto Nuts, but was placed on the disabled list April 7. When he returned from the disabled list, he made a rehabilitation assignment to Tri-City, where in 12 appearances, he posted a 0.64 ERA and 3 saves for the Dust Devils. He returned to Modesto July 20 and made 5 relief appearances (0-0, 9.00 ERA) before a recurrence of the elbow injury ended his season August 30.[1][3]

Clarke was with Modesto again in 2006 and pitched effectively out of their bullpen but was again plagued by injuries; first with inflammation in his pitching shoulder in early June and then with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle, which ended his season June 27. He was 1-1 with the Nuts with 5 saves and a 1.35 ERA.[1] His performance earned him a place on the California League All-Star team, but he was unable to pitch due to injury.[3]

In 2007, Clarke began the season in the bullpen of the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. The Rockies called him up to their big league roster where he made his Major League debut May 18 against the Kansas City Royals.[4]

Clarke was not offered a new contract by the Rockies and became a free agent on December 12, 2007.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Darren Clarke Baseball Statistics. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  2. ^ Player File: Darren Clarke. MLB Advanced Media, L.P.. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
  3. ^ a b c 2007 Colorado Rockies Information Guide (PDF), MLB Advanced Media, L.P., p. 67. Retrieved on 2007-05-19. 
  4. ^ Perkins, Owen (May 19, 2007). Notes: No joke, Clarke gets call to bigs. MLB.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-19.

[edit] External links