Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Tall, projectable left-handers don’t exactly grow on trees, so when one pops up, teams tend to sit up and take notice. While there are big question marks about Clarke, given that he missed most of 2020 because of Tommy John surgery and hadn’t been seen a lot, scouts started pouring in to check on him at his Virginia high school when he came out of the gates showing premium stuff.

If you saw the 6-foot-4 Clarke in his first outing this spring and put the TJ surgery concerns aside, it would be hard not to be excited. The southpaw was up to 97 mph in that short stint in the Virginia Prospect League, his first real game in almost a year and a half. He combined it with a breaking ball that was easily plus, the kind of electric stuff that gets you drafted in the first two rounds. His next two outings, however, trended in the wrong direction, with his velocity dipping anywhere from 88-93 mph and more of a fringy breaking ball to go along with poor command.

Scouts aren’t exactly sure what to make of Clarke, though they’ll be sure to follow his progress as he gets stretched out to see whether he can replicate those early returns. Showing a consistent ability to mix pitches, throw strikes and adjust will be key in determining just how interested teams will be in signing him away from his commitment to Alabama.

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Clarke was a bit of a high school pop-up prospect in Virginia at the start of the 2021 spring season, but even though he was a projectable left-hander with glimpses of plus stuff, he wasn’t able to maintain a strong start and faded out of the Draft picture. He headed to Alabama to start his career but after not getting any mound time his first season, he went the junior college route and transferred to State College of Florida. He pitched sparingly in 2023 but was a regular member of the rotation in 2024, finishing among the nation’s junior college leaders in strikeouts.

In some ways, Clarke is still the raw and projectable southpaw who opened eyes early in 2021, but with a bit more of a track record. The 6-foot-4 lefty has plenty of fastball, and he relies heavily on the pitch. He can be up to 96-97 mph at times, sitting around 94, though it isn’t thrown with a ton of life right now. His upper-70s curve has the chance to be a real out pitch with power, though he doesn’t always commit to it, and he has a firm, upper-80s changeup that needs work.

Clarke’s control has been intermittent, and he walked 4.2 per nine during the 2024 season. While he might best be suited for a relief role, there’s still some ceiling here, though teams will have to balance his upside and arm strength with his lack of resume beyond this spring -- and perhaps his Tommy John surgery in high school -- when deciding if they want to try to sign him away from heading to South Carolina next year.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Clarke bounced back from Tommy John surgery as a junior to become Virginia's best prep pitching prospect in 2021. He developed thoracic issues while coming back from his elbow reconstruction, so he redshirted at Alabama in 2022 and worked just 3 2/3 innings the following year at the State JC of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota). He became the best junior college prospect in the 2024 Draft, leading Florida juco pitchers with 107 strikeouts in 74 1/3 frames last spring and impressing at the MLB Draft Combine before signing with the Red Sox for a below-slot $400,000 as a fifth-rounder.

Clarke throws harder than most lefty starters, sitting at 95-98 mph and reaching 100, though his fastball features more downhill plane than riding or running action. He has unveiled a devastating slider this season, with the pitch operating in the upper 80s and touching 91 mph with huge sweep as well as depth. He has relieved heavily on his heater and slide piece, rarely using an upper-70s curveball and an upper-80s changeup with some mild fade, both of which he struggles to land for strikes.

Still very much a work in progress, Clarke stands out more with his athleticism and quick arm than his polish. He gets down the mound well, creating a low release height with plenty of extension, but he lacks a smooth delivery and currently doesn't repeat it easily enough to have more than fringy control. He comes with a high ceiling and a good deal of reliever risk, making him an intriguing development project.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/25/2025	St. Louis Cardinals traded RHP Sonny Gray and cash to Boston Red Sox for RHP Richard Fitts, LHP Brandon Clarke and Player To Be Named Later.
	11/25/2025	LHP Brandon Clarke assigned to Peoria Chiefs.
	09/09/2025	Greenville Drive activated LHP Brandon Clarke from the 7-day injured list.
	08/15/2025	Greenville Drive placed LHP Brandon Clarke on the 7-day injured list.
	08/15/2025	Greenville Drive placed LHP Brandon Clarke on the 7-day injured list.
	04/29/2025	LHP Brandon Clarke assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox.
	04/29/2025	Greenville Drive activated LHP Brandon Clarke.
	04/02/2025	LHP Brandon Clarke assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox.
	03/06/2025	activated LHP Brandon Clarke.
	02/28/2025	LHP Brandon Clarke assigned to FCL Red Sox.
	07/27/2024	Boston Red Sox signed LHP Brandon Clarke.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated LHP Brandon Clarke.
	05/09/2023	LHP Brandon Clarke and assigned to College Workout.
	10/06/2022	LHP Brandon Clarke and assigned to College Workout.