Nationals’ Alex Clemmey Sees Results From ‘Quieter’ Delivery
Soon after lefthander Alex Clemmey joined the Nationals organization, he helped Low-A Fredericksburg win the 2024 Carolina League championship.
Then prior to this season, he continued to impress as he struck out six Mets while allowing one run in three innings in a Spring Breakout game.
“Being able to win a championship my first year was special,” the 19-year-old Clemmey said. “We had a great clubhouse with great energy, and we went all out to win it. That was great do that my first year, but I look forward to many more.”
The Nationals acquired Clemmey from the Guardians along with infielders Jose Tena and Rafael Ramirez Jr. last July 29 for outfielder Lane Thomas.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Clemmey pitched all of last year in the Carolina League, striking out 123 and walking 63 in 92.1 innings between Lynchburg and Fredericksburg. He smoothed out his delivery with help from his longtime personal pitching coach John DeRouin and from the Nationals’ pitching coaches.
Cleveland drafted Clemmey in the second round in 2023 out of Bishop Hendricken High in Warwick, R.I. He throws his four-seam fastball and new sinker in the mid-to-high 90s and his slider and changeup in the mid-to-high 80s.
“Everyone knows my slider is my putaway pitch,” he said. “But really in high school, it was my fastball because it touched 100 (mph).”
DeRouin, now the director of pitching performance and strategy for the University of Arizona, formerly worked in Rhode Island and then as the Tigers’ rehab pitching coordinator. He has known Clemmey for about five years.
“He’s been the main man for me,” Clemmey said. “He has helped me with every single aspect of life.”
This past offseason, Clemmey went to Arizona to work on his delivery.
“I just think it’s a little more refined, quieter,” he said. “I’ve been able to simplify it where it’s smooth and effortless and I can still produce high velocity. Once I’m ahead in the count, I’m in the driver’s seat. That’s where I put myself in position to be consistent.”
Clemmey chose pro ball over a Vanderbilt offer, and his brother Patrick is now a Vanderbilt recruit in this year’s high school class.
“He’s a lefty, too,” Clemmey said. “Everyone in the family is lefthanded. We get known for that lefty craziness, but it’s a good craziness for sure.”
CAPITAL GAINS
— Erick Mejia was one of the pitching standouts at Nationals minor league camp. The 30-year-old righthander was a major league position player with the Royals in 2019 and 2020. He hit 96 mph in a bullpen session at Triple-A Rochester last season and converted to pitching during the offseason.
— Catcher Kevin Bazzell, a third-round pick last year out of Texas Tech, was among the position players who had a strong minor league camp. He hit .273/.433/.386 in 44 at-bats for Low-A Fredericksburg last season.
