A Case for Matt Clark

One of the annual rites of the Winter Meetings is the Rule V draft.

This is an opportunity for clubs to select unprotected players from other teams' minor league systems. At the major league level, this means selecting a minor leaguer to place on that team's 25-man roster for the duration of the season. If the player doesn't stick, they're sent back to their original team. There's a whole lot more to it than that, but you get the idea.


As a Padres fan, this year was somewhat unique, as far as the draft was concerned, because the team's farm system is so stocked. There was a real risk of losing talent in this year's draft since there are only so many protected spots. 

Players like Matt Clark, Jonathan Galvez, and Drew Cumberland were just some of the names that had fans (and likely members of the organization as well) a bit nervous this time around.


As it turned out, no one was selected. I, for one, breathed a hefty sigh of relief.


I wasn't overly concerned about Galvez or Cumberland. They're both talented, no doubt, and have high ceilings, but they're also young and still perfecting their craft.

Clark, on the other hand, I feared was a goner.



Obviously, if a player is selected, it's a testament to that player's ability, as the big league club that selected them views them as ready to handle the jump. Case in point: San Diego benefited by selecting Everth Cabrera from Colorado's low minors. He had a solid rookie campaign. While he suffered some setbacks in his second season, he's still in the organization and still has a shot to become a regular.


The converse can also be true. If a player is not selected, it may be an indication that other teams don't see a major league skill set in that player. Granted, correlation doesn't necessarily indicate causation, as that 25-man roster is sacred territory and is treated as such. But where does that leave us with Clark's status?


I think we dodged a bullet. 


Clark has been flying strong and straight, under the radar his whole career. Here's what he's done:

ROOKIE: 140AB, .279AVG, 5HR, 32RBI
A-: 252AB, .266AVG, 11HR, 55RBI
A+: 250AB, .292AVG, 13HR, 46RBI
AA: 499AB, .269AVG, 28HR, 97RBI
AAA: 462AB, .292AVG, 23HR, 83RBI

Those are impressively consistent if you ask me. You know what you get: some pop and the ability to drive in runs. These are both sorely needed in San Diego. Granted, he's a lefty and they often get swallowed up by Petco National Park, but many in the organization believe that AA San Antonio plays similar to Petco, and that's the season Clark clubbed the most big flies and knocked in the most runs.


Now, I'm not lobbying for him as a starter just yet. He plays a decent 1B and made a good transition to the corner OF. I am, however, advocating for him to get first crack should the opportunity arise.


If any of the combination of Blanks, Venable, Rizzo, and Guzman can't find consistent lumber, then Clark should be the first in line to be given his starts. And when I say give him his starts, I mean it. None of this "in the lineup one day, not the next" business that seems to happen a bit too often for my taste under Black's leadership.


Obviously, MLB teams were wary of selecting him for their rosters, and they may very well be correct about his inability to translate his skill set at the highest level. For my money, though, I think he has a shot to breakout and become a regular contributor.