Red Sox pitching prospect Brandon Clarke was placed on the 7-day injured list for High-A Greenville on Friday after experiencing a recurrence of pitching blisters, making it unlikely he will pitch again this season, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. This development marks a significant setback in Clarke’s first professional year.

Clarke’s Background and Early Career Progression

Clarke, a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher, was selected in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Though initially committed to transferring to South Carolina, he signed with the Red Sox for an under-slot $400,000 bonus. Clarke did not begin his professional career until April of this year. Baseball America ranks him as Boston’s No. 7 overall prospect, placing him fourth among the organization’s pitching prospects.

Impressive Start Followed by Injury Challenges

After an impressive spring training, Clarke began the season with Low-A Salem, where he dominated Carolina League hitters with a 0.93 ERA and a 0.94 FIP, striking out 17 batters while walking just two over 9 2/3 innings in three starts. Following his strong performance, he was promoted to Greenville in late April, where he continued to pitch effectively through May. On May 24, after throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Bowling Green, Clarke was sidelined for over a month due to a blister caused by a hangnail.

Struggles After Return and Current Season Performance

Returning to pitching on June 26, Clarke experienced difficulties, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 5.42 FIP across seven starts and 14 innings with Greenville before being placed back on the injured list. For the season with Greenville, he amassed a 5.08 ERA and 4.20 FIP, striking out 43 batters and walking 25 over 28 1/3 innings. Despite the ERA, opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League managed only a .150 batting average against him.

Season Summary and Prospects Moving Forward

If Clarke’s 2024 season ends here, he will have completed his rookie year with a combined 4.03 ERA and 3.37 FIP, along with 60 strikeouts to 27 walks across 14 starts and 38 innings pitched between Salem and Greenville. His strikeout rate of 34.5 percent and walk rate of 15.5 percent reflect his raw talent on the mound. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Clarke’s arsenal includes a fastball that reaches the upper 90s—topping out around 98-99 mph—paired with an effective slider (87-90 mph), a sweeping breaking ball (81-85 mph), and a changeup in the high 80s.