Tyler Clippard, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 2/14/1985
Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky
Nickname: The Yankee Clippard

Tyler Clippard, relief pitcher, started pitching at the young age of eight. He was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 2003. He played in the Yankees' minor league system from 2003 through most of 2007, joining the team for just six games in 2007.

The Yankees traded Clippard to the Washington Nationals in December, 2007. He spent most of the 2008 season in the minors, pitching in just two games with the Nationals. In 2009, he pitched 60.1 innings in 41 games out of the Nationals' bullpen. He finished that season with a 2.69 ERA.

Clippard continued to pitch out of the Nationals' bullpen in 2010, pitching mostly in the setup position. He finished the season with a 3.07 ERA, an 11-8 record, and one save in 91.0 innings in 78 games. The following season, he had a career low ERA of 1.83 in 88.1 innings in 72 games.

Clippard signed a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Nationals in 2012. That season he became the Nationals' closer. He finished the 2012 season with a 3.72 ERA and 32 saves in 74 games. His ERA dropped considerably in 2013, when he finished with a 2.41 ERA. It was even better in 2014, when he had a 2.18 ERA.

On January 14, 2015, Clippard was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He was traded again on July 27, 2015, this time to the New York Mets. He finished the 2015 season with a 5-4 record, 19 saves, 64 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 2.92 ERA in 37 games with the Athletics and 32 games with the Mets. In postseason play, he pitched 6.2 innings in 8 games and he gave up 7 hits, including a home run, and 5 runs.

Clippard signed a two-year, $12.25 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 8, 2016. He returned to the Yankees in a trade on July 31, 2016. He finished the season with a 3.57 ERA, 4 wins and 6 losses, 3 saves, and 72 strikeouts to 26 walks in 40 games with the Diamondbacks and 29 games with the Yankees.

The Yankees traded Clippard to the Chicago White Sox on July 18, 2017. He was traded to the Houston Astros on August 13th. He finished the 2017 season with 2 wins and 8 losses, 5 saves, 72 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 4.77 ERA in 40 games with the Yankees, 11 games with the White Sox, and 16 games with the Astros. He didn't pitch in the postseason.

Clippard became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on March 7, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 4 wins and 3 losses, 7 saves, 85 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a 3.67 ERA in 68.2 innings in 73 games.

Clippard became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on February 23, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 1 win and no losses, 64 strikeouts to 15 walks, and a 2.90 ERA in 62.0 innings in 53 games.

Clippard became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 20th. He pitched in 26 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 2 wins and 1 loss, 26 strikeouts to 4 walks, and a 2.77 ERA in 26.0 innings.

Clippard elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He returned to the Diamondbacks on February 26, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 1 win and 1 loss, 6 saves, 21 strikeouts to 11 walks, and a 3.20 ERA in 25.1 innings in 26 games.

Clippard became a free agent on November 4, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the Nationals on March 31, 2022. He again elected free agency on August 25th.

Career pitching statistics for Clippard through 2021 include:

• 803 games played
• 867.1 innings pitched
• 56-48 win-loss record
• 74 saves
• 952 strikeouts to 340 walks
• 3.20 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Tyler Clippard
ESPN - Tyler Clippard