- Full name Matt McClendon
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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McClendon was a supplemental first-round pick of the Reds in 1996 who didn't sign and had a disappointing career at Florida, but he seemed to blossom after the Braves drafted him. So the organization isn't sure what went wrong with him last year. He had some minor injuries around the midpoint of the campaign, but those ailments fail to explain how miserable his command was for most of the season. Ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect going into 2001, he couldn't find the strike zone after opening the season in Triple-A. He fared little better in two poor Double-A starts, then landed in high Class A in late July and continued to struggle in eight relief outings. After averaging 3.4 walks per nine innings during his first two years as a pro, he surrendered 7.0 per nine innings last season. When in a groove, McClendon has a low-90s fastball with good movement, a sharp curveball and a good knowledge of how to pitch. He was working on refining his mechanics last year but never could get back on track. After appearing on the verge of reaching the major leagues following the 2000 season, McClendon will try to regain his success in the upper reaches of the farm system this year. -
A supplemental first-round pick by the Reds out of high school in 1996, McClendon was expected to go higher in 1999 before a minor shoulder injury robbed him of his velocity. After signing for a $950,000 bonus, McClendon pitched just 23 innings at short-season Jamestown before returning to a normal schedule in 2000. He emerged as hoped and reached Double-A Greenville in May. McClendon has all the ingredients to be a quality starter. His best pitches are his low-90s fastball with good movement and a sharp curveball he added during instructional league in 1999. He has good command and a solid idea of what it takes to get hitters out. An improved changeup would make McClendon much tougher to hit. He could also stand to fine-tune a breaking ball that tends to flatten out at times. Because of his size, refined mechanics are also a must. McClendon could have handled Triple-A at the end of last season. He'll get that opportunity this year at Richmond, with a promotion to Atlanta just around the corner. -
Minor League Top Prospects
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The 6-foot-6 McClendon battled nagging injuries throughout the year, including a pulled chest muscle this spring and a tender elbow early in the summer after he signed. When healthy he made a quick impression on league managers, despite making just seven starts. "He was the best I saw all year," Mahoning Valley manager Ted Kubiak said. "He was very intimidating with a 94-95 mph fastball, and he threw a hard breaking curveball that was just as impressive." McClendon was a supplemental first-round pick of the Reds out of high school in 1996 before struggling for three years at Florida. The Braves paid him a $950,000 signing bonus this June, though he was only a fifth-round selection.