Yankees Minor League Baseball Blog

Tyler Clippard was the Yankees ninth round pick back in 2003.  He made his minor league debut that season and pitched in the Gulf Coast League where he had an impressive 56/5 strikeout to walk ratio in 43 2/3 innings.  He followed that up in 2004 with a full season at Battle Creek where once again he kept an impressive strikeout to walk ratio.  He also gave up his share of runs though.  His ERA was 3.44 but he also gave up 14 unearned runs.  In 2005, he moved up to Tampa and seemed to turn the corner.  He struck out more guys but kept his walk rate the same and his ERA of 3.18 was more indicative of the damage he caused because he gave up only four unearned runs and his WHIP was just on the north side of 1.000.

In 2006, he made the move up to Double A and remained impressive.  His walk rate was up (55 walks in 166 1/3 innings) and he did give up 14 homeruns but he also struck out 175.  John Sickels liked him best and ranked him fifth with a B rating and he speculates the Clippard will start the season at Triple A.  Also keep in mind that this kid is only 22 years old.  He still have plenty of time to blossom.