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窪蹋勛圖厙

窪蹋勛圖厙 窪蹋勛圖厙 Visit
941-752-5000 Admissions@窪蹋勛圖厙.edu Mailing Address:
PO Box 1849
Bradenton, FL 34206

Brandon Clarke Continues 窪蹋勛圖厙 Manatees Excellence as a 2024 MLB Draft Prospect

Bradenton, Fla. Jul. 11, 2024

(Bradenton, Fla., July 11, 2024) Brandon Clarke, a 21-year-old, talented left-handed pitcher and student at 窪蹋勛圖厙, Manatee-Sarasota (窪蹋勛圖厙), is a prospect in the airing July 14-16. Clarke delivered an impressive performance at the 2024 MLB Draft Combine and may become the next player in 窪蹋勛圖厙s history to be selected by an MLB team.

One of more than 300 invited 2024 combine players, Clarke stood out on day two with his exceptional arm strength and 96 mph throws, according to an , which ranks Clarke 177 on the MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 200. Clarke is the third 窪蹋勛圖厙 player to participate in the prestigious combine event, which . 窪蹋勛圖厙 Manatees former right-handed pitchers Gavin Adams and Michael Forret attended the 2023 combine, said Tim W. Hill II, The Manatees head baseball coach. The Baltimore Orioles selected as overall pick 421 in round 14 of the 2023 draft.  

Clarke felt honored to participate in this years combine.

It was fun to be around a lot of baseball players and a lot of talent, Clarke said. I saw a lot of guys that Ive known growing up and playing together. I pitched well out there. Im happy I decided to do it, he said.

He plans to watch the draft at his house in North Carolina with a group of 10-15 friends and family members.

Ive worked for this my whole life, Clarke said. God has blessed me with the talent and gifts to get to this point. Im anxious to get selected hopefully, get rolling and get my professional career going.

Growing up in Virginia, Clarke played baseball at age four and basketball. He enjoyed practicing with his older sister, who played softball, and his father, who played Division I baseball. After Clarke graduated from high school, his family moved to North Carolina. He has attended and pitched at the University of Alabama and 窪蹋勛圖厙. He studied business entrepreneurship at 窪蹋勛圖厙 and earned an A.A. degree. He is currently committed to attending the University of South Carolina, where he would play for the Gamecocks under its new head coach, Paul Mainieri, if he is not chosen in the draft.

Clarke is ranked the third best junior college left-handed pitcher, according to a . One team that is possibly considering Clarke early in the draft is the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a .

His performance at 窪蹋勛圖厙 was remarkable.  

“He struck out the most batters in the state this season and was among the top 20 in the state in earned run average, said Nick Cichielo, 窪蹋勛圖厙s director of athletics. Using regular season statistics only, Brandon was among the top five pitchers in the nation in strikeouts.”

Cichielo praises Clarke as a phenomenal person with a militaristic, disciplined approach to baseball.

He works very hard at his craftone of the hardest-working college players Ive seen, Cichielo said. He is constantly absorbing information and working to get better.

Playing for The Manatees helped shape Clarkes life and abilities.

My team over the last two years has been great, Clarke said. The coaches were all key factors in my success as a baseball player and as a man. We have a great group of guys. It was a fun season.

For more information about 窪蹋勛圖厙s athletics programs, visit .

Photo caption: 窪蹋勛圖厙 Manatees Baseball Pitcher Brandon Clarke

Photo credit: 窪蹋勛圖厙, Manatee-Sarasota