D-backs reliever Taylor Clarke makes history in MLB debut
Apr 20, 2019, 3:47 PM | Updated: 5:32 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Taylor Clarke, right, celebrates with catcher John Ryan Murphy after the Diamondbacks defeated the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
It seems as if the Arizona Diamondbacks relievers are trying to one-up each other in their MLB debuts.
First, it was top prospect Jon Duplantier who impressed in his debut, throwing three scoreless innings to earn a save earlier this month against San Diego.
On Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, fellow top prospect Taylor Clarke did just a little more.
Clark threw three scoreless innings for his first save, but also recorded his first MLB hit when he singled in the eighth inning.
Keep that ball! #Dbacks No. 10 prospect Taylor Clarke notches his 1st #MLB strikeout in his @MLB debut. Gameday/watch live: https://t.co/urroX80icd pic.twitter.com/UhClNeoni0
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 20, 2019
It was the first time since saves became an official statistic in 1969 that a player has recorded their first save and hit in their MLB debut.
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“I was just trying to follow in Duplantier’s footsteps,” Clarke said after the 6-0 victory. “It’s pretty special.”
Clarke, who finished with two strikeouts and allowed just one hit, was called up on Saturday to provide bullpen depth through the weekend.
The D-backs’ No. 10 prospect’s hit wasn’t much to get excited about — it was an infield single — but counts nonetheless.
He picked a good bat to use, too. Clarke said he used the bat of Christian Walker, who went 4-for-4 in Saturday’s win.
We’ll see how long Clarke sticks with the big league club moving forward, but another dazzling debut nonetheless for a D-backs reliever.
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