Matt Clark (baseball)

Matt Clark
Clark with the Chunichi Dragons
Leones de Yucatán – No. 38
First baseman
Born: (1986-12-10) December 10, 1986
West Covina, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: 2013, for the Chunichi Dragons
MLB: September 2, 2014, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average .185
Home runs 3
Runs batted in 7
NPB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .234
Home runs 27
Runs batted in 74
Teams
Medals
Men’s baseball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
2011 Guadalajara National team

Matthew Terry "Matt" Clark (born December 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has played for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Chunichi Dragons and Orix Buffaloes (NPB). Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball at UC Santa Barbara and Louisiana State University. Clark has also competed for the United States national baseball team.

Amateur career

Clark attended Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It was announced on November 18, 2004 that Clark had signed with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team and enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara.[1] Clark played in 44 games as a true freshman and hit 2 home runs for the Gauchos.[2] He left Santa Barbara after his freshman year and continued his collegiate career at Riverside Community College, where he was named a Junior college First-Team All-American in 2007.[3] Clark was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 28th round (848th overall) of the 2007 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, but did not sign.

Clark transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played for the LSU Tigers baseball team in the Southeastern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I in 2008. As a junior, his 28 home runs tied Gordon Beckham for most in NCAA's Division I.[4]

Professional career

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres selected Clark in the 12th round (375th overall) of the 2008 MLB Draft, and Clark signed with the Padres.[3] He began his professional career with the Eugene Emeralds of the Class-A Short Season Northwest League in 2008. In 2009, he played for the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class-A Midwest League and the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class-A Advanced California League. He finished the 2009 season with had 101 runs batted in (RBI) at Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore, one of fifteen minor league baseball players to have at least 100 RBI that season.[5] He played for the San Antonio Missions of the Class-AA Texas League in 2010 and the Tucson Padres of the Class-AAA Pacific Coast League in 2011. The Padres invited Clark to spring training in 2012. He was released from the organization on January 8, 2013.

Chunichi Dragons

Clark played with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2013 season.

New York Mets

On January 31, 2014, Clark signed a minor-league contract with the New York Mets that included an invitation to spring training. He appeared in 67 games for the Double-A Binghamton Mets before he was released on June 25, 2014.

Milwaukee Brewers

On July 4, 2014, Clark signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Clark was called up to the Brewers MLB roster in September 2014. He hit his first RBI then later hit his first home Major League home run on September 10, 2014 at home against the Miami Marlins. The home run extended the Brewers' lead over the Marlins to 3-1 in the bottom of the 7th inning in a game with potential playoff implications. Clark spent the 2015 season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.

Chicago Cubs

On February 26, 2016, Clark signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs with an invite to spring training for the season. He was released on March 26.

Vaqueros Laguna

Clark signed with the Vaqueros Laguna of the Mexican Baseball League on April 28, 2016. He was released on May 3, 2016.

Orix Buffaloes

He returned to Japanese baseball with the Orix Buffaloes on May 12, 2016.[6] He became a free agent after the 2016 season.

Mexican League (2017–present)

On February 28, 2017, Clark signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League. On April 14, 2018, Clark was traded to the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican Baseball League. Clark was then traded to the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos on June 11, 2018. On August 15, 2018, Clark was loaned to the Leones de Yucatán for the remainder of the 2018 season.

Personal life

Clark played for the United States national baseball team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the 2011 Pan American Games, winning the silver medal.[7]

Clark's father, Terry Clark, played in Major League Baseball.[3] Clark is married to Julia Morales.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UC Santa Barbara Inks Top-25 Recruiting Class". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. November 18, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "2006 UC Santa Barbara Baseball". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. May 28, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Padres sign sixth-round pick Cole Figueroa - padres.com: Official Info". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Matt Clark Bio". Lsusports.net. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "AtlantaDugout.com". braves.scout.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Buffloes Finalize Deal with Former Dragon, Clark". Japan Times. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Emrich, Robert (October 26, 2011). "Van Ostrand, Canada take Pan Am gold | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  8. ↑
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.