New York Yankees News: Ian Clarkin is Back in the New York Groove

Great news Yankees fans!

Yankees prospect Ian Clarkin is back in the New York Groove!

The 20-year old Southpaw was added to the Arizona Fall League roster in the end of September and finally made his much anticipated return to the mound on October 19th against the Mesa Solar Sox, a game in which he tossed 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. His second start came on October 24th against the Glendale Desert Dogs, and despite allowing three earned runs on seven hits, he still earned the win.

Sure this is jut the Arizona Fall League, and sure Ian Clarkin will be on an innings limit through the remainder of the extended minor league season, but it’s overly exciting to have one of the best pitchers in the Yankees farm system back on track!

Clarkin was selected 33rd overall out of Madison High School in San Diego, California just one pick after the Yankees selected the heavy hitting Aaron Judge. They also drafted Eric Jagielo earlier on in the first round – which is a pretty impressive draft haul if you ask me.

After an impressive Yankees debut in 2014 where Clarkin went 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 15 games started with the Charleston RiverDogs and one game started for the Tampa Yankees when he was promoted, Clarkin missed the entire 2015 minor league season after being shut down in spring training with elbow inflammation in his pitching arm.

Despite missing the entire 2015 season, Clarkin is still ranked by MLB Pipeline as the seventh best prospect in the Yankees farm system and the second best pitcher behind 2015 first-round draft pick James Kaprielian.

But why all the hype surrounding Ian Clarkin shaking off the rust in two AzFL starts?

Well, it’s not every-day that you find a four-pith lefty at just 20-years old. Clarkin is armed with a low-90s fastball, a cutter, a change up and what many would consider his best off-speed pitch – a curveball that just falls off the table.

While he might never be a major league ace, Clarkin still has the potential to be a solid number two or three starter. The timing of his elbow injury couldn’t be worse, especially given how aggressive the Yankees have been in regards to promoting their prospects in 2015. This is just sheer speculation, but if Clarkin remained healthy, I think he could have reached AA Trenton Thunder by the end of this season, which could have put him on track to be a September call up in 2016.

Anyway, now that Clarkin is back and healthy, we’re hoping he can pick up right where he left off in 2014.

With the major league success of Luis Severino and the likes of James Kaprielian, Ian Clarkin, Jeff Degano and Jacob Lindgren down in the minors for the Yankees – the future of the Yankees pitching could not be brighter.

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