Local Sports
National magazine features CHS star
By Steve SeagleBy Steve Seagle
sseagle@cullmantimes.com
The Major League Baseball draft is on Tuesday and Caleb Clay’s name will be mentioned in the war room of several major league teams.
One of the nation’s most respected baseball magazines, Baseball America will be featuring Caleb Clay and the Bearcat baseball team in its upcoming edition.
“We communicate with area scouts in Alabama almost daily and Clay’s name came up a lot this season,” said Alan Matthews of Baseball America.
The story will appear on Baseball America’s web site on Monday and should hit news stands on June 10.
After an impressive senior season, including a trip to Montgomery for the 5A Alabama State Finals, Clay’s stock has risen even further and is quickly gaining attention all over the baseball realm.
“The high school baseball scene in Alabama this season has been very compelling,” Matthews said. “Because of great coaching, teams like Cullman and Stanhope were able to compete at the highest level.”
According to Matthews the talent pool overall in northern Alabama was sub par but was very impressed with Cullman.
“They came together at the right time and played in an exciting series,” Matthews said. “The teams are not as talented as in Russell County but they gelled at the right time and played great baseball.”
During the summer before Clay’s senior season, he put in more time and effort training than ever before and it showed this season.
“The fastball took a major jump over last season,” said Cullman coach Bryan Bowen. “His fastball went from 88-to-94 miles per hour. He has worked extremely hard in the weight room and on the bands. His throwing schedule that he created for himself really helped him become dominant.”
As of now, Clay’s three stronghold pitches are the fastball, curveball and slider. But according to Matthews, he has the potential to have a four pitch repertoire at the next level.
“He has a great fastball and commanded his secondary stuff,” Matthews said. “He could develop into a complete pitcher with good stuff and has a shot to end up in the majors one day.”
Clay finished the season with 86 innings under his belt, with 112 strikeouts and 21 base on balls. He finished the season 10-1 with 5 saves and a 1.29 ERA.
But Clay’s command on the mound with secondary pitches came with lots of hard work.
“His change has always been active but he never had command,” Bowen said. “He found an arm slot that he was comfortable with and after lots and lots of reps on the mound, he has gotten much better.”
Clay has also been pined by MLB.com as one of the top development prospect pitchers in the draft. You can also access footage on Clay at MLB.com by clicking on the 2006 draft.
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