Mike Clevinger

Position: RHP
Born: 12/21/1990
Height: 6'4
Weight: 210
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Via trade from the Angels on August 7, 2014, in exchange for RHP Vinnie Pestano (CLE). Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Seminole State Junior College in Florida (LAA).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts at Columbus (Triple-A) including one complete game, striking out 36 in 35.2 IP while walking 17 and allowing 28 hits.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Recalled from Columbus May 18 when OF Tyler Naquin was sent down.
MLB Debut Date: 5/18/2016

Debut Details
May 18, in a 12-inning, 8-7 win against the Reds. He was the first of eight Indians pitchers on the night, allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits in 5.1 IP, walking one and striking out five (all swinging). The first big league batter he faced, Zack Cozart, delivered a line drive single to left field but was left stranded as Billy Hamilton grounded into a fielder’s choice, Joey Votto struck out and Brandon Phillips grounded out. In fact, Cozart’s single would be the only hit Clevinger would give up until the fourth inning when Jay Bruce, who had drawn a walk in his first plate appearance, hit a two-out solo homer to right field (the first of what would be two homers on the night for Bruce). Clevinger retired the next four batters he faced before giving up three runs to open the sixth. Cozart once again singled to lead the rally off and Hamilton reached on a bunt single before Votto’s double to center drove in both runners. After striking out Phillips, Clevinger was relieved by Kyle Crockett. Clevinger’s final charged run of the night came home when yet a third pitcher in the inning, Zach McCallister, came on and gave up a three-run homer to Eugenio Suarez.

Player Notes
Clevinger is not the only player in baseball to sport long lustrous locks, but for some reason he just seems to rock them the best (though the mom in me wants to pull it into a ponytail to keep it out of his eyes when he’s pitching). In the meantime, he is certainly putting up numbers that should get the attention of hair care products to add to his endorsements. Armed with a fastball in the low 90s, a hard slider, a changeup and a curveball in his arsenal, he led all Indians’ minor league pitchers in 2015 with 145 strikeouts in 27 starts at Akron (Double-A), going 9-8 with a 2.73 ERA in 158 innings and walking just 40 while allowing 127 hits. He also led the Eastern League by limiting opposing hitters to a .219 average and finished strong with 15 1/3 shutout innings at Columbus to help the Clippers clinch the International League title. Though he was drafted by the Angels in 2011, he didn’t actually make his pro debut until 2013 after signing late, and then undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2012.