From the outside, it’s astounding to me that any kid drafted in any round right out of high school goes on to college. I understand as well as anybody that raising your draft stock can equal millions of dollars, but for a high school kid handed a $400-500,000 signing bonus and pro contract at 18, how in the hell do you turn that down. Well, Chicago Cubs minor league pitcher Trevor Clifton couldn’t and now the organization is reaping the benefits.
“I didn’t like school anyway,” Clifton told me. “It’s kind of overwhelming at first. It’s the same day-to-day life. You’re on the field every day so you can’t really go out and spend whatever you want.”
Trevor Clifton starts for the Smokies tomorrow night. Yes. You should follow that game.
— Tim Huwe (@tim815) May 26, 2017
Clifton opened the season as the Cubs’ No. 3-ranked minor league prospect, right behind outfielder Eloy Jimenez and and right-hander Dylan Cease. It’s a stark difference from last offseason when the former 12th-round pick didn’t even seem to be on the radar.
That all changed in with the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Carolina League last season. Clifton finished 7-7 with basement-level 2.72 E.R.A in 23 starts. At the end of the season, he was the Chicago Cubs’ minor league pitcher of the year.
“Last year was all about the mental side of the game, more than anything else,” Clifton said. “Just knowing my stuff is good. I had to learn not to pick at hitters, but to go after them and throwing the ball in the strike zone.”
Trevor Clifton on the hill for the Smokies! We're underway at Smokies Stadium! pic.twitter.com/PO1QtVaAyE
— Tennessee Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) May 14, 2017
Clifton knew when the Cubs drafted him he would have a unique minor league journey. Clifton played his high school baseball at Heritage High in Maryville, Tenn. All of 45 minutes away from Smokies Park. The Tennessee Smokies are, literally, his home team and he spent many a summer in the stands cheering on the Cubs’ farmhands.
“I grew up watching them (the Smokies) play, so putting the jersey on and playing on the field I grew up watching is pretty great,” Clifton said. “We have a lot of great pitchers in our organization and a lot of different pitchers. The way they go about the game and the way they pitch the hitters. It’s fun to be a part of it.”
Still, it made for an interesting first start for the Smokies. Clifton is the third man in Tennessee’s five-pitcher rotation and that meant he made his first start at home on a Friday. Needless to say, the stadium was packed and plenty of tickets went to his family and friends from the Maryville and Knoxville area.
Clifton put a zero on the board in the first inning, but slipped up in the second. He served up a three-run homer to Mississippi Braves center fielder Connor Lien. It gave up the lead, 3-1, and eventually would tag Clifton with the loss on the hill. The 21-year-old didn’t wilt and turned in three more scoreless innings before heading to the dugout. Clifton’s final line was a solid two hits, three runs, four walks and six strikeouts in five-innings’ work.
“It shows a lot of his (Clifton’s) character and his makeup,” Smokies manager Mark Johnson said. “He could have totally lost it and never regained it, but he actually got better and better off of that. To see that, it’s huge. Sometimes you’ve got to dig a little deep, even if it’s in front of your family and friends.”
Trevor Clifton outduels Michael Kopech in game 1. Exits after 5IP 0R 5H 2BB 3K. Smokies lead Barons 4-0 t6. Markey now pitching.
— Josh Timmers 🇺🇦 (@JoshFTimmers) April 20, 2017
When Clifton was drafted he’ll be the first to admit he had just two pitches in his arsenal, a fastball and a curve. He’s recently developed a change-up and feels it’s his best pitch. A slider is working its way into the quiver as well. He’s a keen observer in what other pitchers, especially his fellow Cubs, do when they’re on the hill.
“You work on it so much in the bullpen and it makes you feel comfortable when you get on the mound, Clifton said. “We have a lot of great pitchers in our organization and a lot of different pitchers. The way they go about the game and the way they pitch the hitters.”
At 6-1 and 170, Clifton still has some filling out to do and probably another solid year in the minors to do it. While the Cubs do snatch up guys from Double-A to the main roster from time to time, it’s never been a starting pitcher, at least since I’ve been covering the Smokies. Bullpen closers and position guys may get an early shot. If Clifton has a spot in the big league team’s rotation ahead of him, it’s probably a couple of years away. The Cubs have proven they know what they’re doing. Clifton is 3-2 right now with a 2.36 E.R.A. in nine starts.
“I’m not focusing as much on outcome,” Clifton said. “I want to execute my pitches. You have to stay consistent while you’re here. That’s what can get you to the big leagues. That’s what will bring me to that level. It makes us work harder as minor leaguers. The team up there is the best in the big leagues right now. It’s great to be around a winning organization.”
What a difference a year makes
Last season at this time the Tennessee Smokies were struggling to win their 20th game and not finish in last place in the Southern League North before the All-Star break. This year, the Smokies are atop their division at 29-23, a half-game ahead of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Minnesota Twins) and Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays) and that’s in spite for a four-game skid.
Manager Mark Johnson, in his second year with the team, can tell the difference in the clubhouse.
“The camaraderie and the atmosphere is different,” Johnson said of his 2017 squad. “The way the guys play together and work together, the way they prepare and compete. It’s a bunch of guys that love to play the game. They’re steady. They don’t get to high or too low. That’s the name of the game is consistency and they’re consistence. It’s a really good group of guys that care.”
Leading the way at the plate is left fielder Charcer Burks and third baseman Jason Vosler. Burks and Vosler are both batting .288 with Burks adding eight doubles, one triple, four home runs and 16 RBIs. Vosler is putting up wrecking crew stats with nine doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 33 RBIs.
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