Clayton Mortensen

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106+2⁄3 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2015. [11]

Mortensen saw game time for Omaha for the fourth straight season in 2016, appearing in 32 games and pitching to a 3-5 record and 5.65 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 63+2⁄3 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016. [12]

Miami Marlins

On April 4, 2017, Mortensen signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins, and was assigned to the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes. [13] In 41 appearances split between New Orleans and the Double–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he worked to a combined 6–1 record and 5.47 ERA with 61 strikeouts and 7 saves in 51.0 innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6. [14]

Kansas City Royals (second stint)

On January 20, 2018, Mortensen signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. [15] Mortensen did not throw a pitch in 2018. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Coaching career

Mortensen retired after the 2018 season and was named as the Pitching Coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars for the 2019 season. He was named the Myrtle Beach Pelicans pitching coach for the 2021 season. He was named pitching coach for the South Bend Cubs the Chicago Cubs High-A affiliate for the 2023 season. Mortensen kept the role of pitching coach in 2024, shifting to the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs. [16]

Pitching style

Mortensen threw four pitches: a four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball at 88–90 mph, a slider at 85–87, and a circle changeup at 79–81. The slider tended to be used more against right-handed batters, and the changeup was used more against left-handed hitters. [17] Mortensen's slider had a somewhat unusual and unpredictable movement:

My slider isn’t a typical slider. It doesn’t necessarily break right-to-left. It has more depth to it, so it’s more of a down-ball. It also has three different movements, depending on where my release point is. When I really accentuate staying on top of it — away to a righty — it will have a little depth and a little right-to-left movement. If I try to throw it down the middle, it’s more straight down. Sometimes it kind of screws. It's basically because of the way I grip it. I kind of cock my wrist a little bit. To be honest, I try to throw it as hard as I can and it just kind of does what it wants to do. [18]

Personal life

On the night of October 2, 2009, Mortensen was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and spent the night in the Santa Clara County Jail. [19]

Mortensen is married to Janna and they had two children, Miles and Harper. [20] Miles died at the age of 6 on September 11, 2018 after a long battle with stage IV Neuroblastoma. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ "Gonzaga University Baseball Players Who Made It to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  2. ↑ "2007 MLB.com Draft tracker". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Cards offer 20 non-roster invites: Rasmus and Wallace among those to attend big-league camp". MLB.com. January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Cards' Greene back on disabled list (June 29, 2009)". Stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  5. ↑ Slusser, Susan (August 8, 2009). "Springer claimed by Tampa Bay - updated". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  6. ↑ "Rockies fill infield hole with Marco Scutaro | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ [ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Doyle, Ricky (June 29, 2013). "Clayton Mortensen Designated for Assignment, Jonathan Diaz Called Up in Wake of Stephen Drew's Injury". NESN. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ Doyle, Ricky (July 3, 2013). "Clayton Mortensen Clears Waivers, Outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket". NESN. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Red Sox trade Clayton Mortensen to Royals for Quintin Berry - Sports". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Dusty Coleman heads list of Royals minor league free agents". royalsreview.com. November 9, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Clayton Mortensen Stats, Highlights, Bio". milb.com. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Top MLB Prospects, Scouting Reports, Analysis".
  16. ↑ "Cubs announce 2024 minor league managers and coaching staffs". bleedcubbieblue.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Clayton Mortensen". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  18. ↑ Laurila, David (May 7, 2012). "Clayton Mortensen: Four Pitches, Hot Hand". Fangraphs . Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ Slusser, Susan (October 4, 2009). "Mortensen arrested for suspected drunk driving - updated". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  20. ↑ "A baseball family's young son fights a courageous battle with cancer". FOX Sports. June 14, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Clayton Mortensen on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 3, 2018.[ dead link ]
Clayton Mortensen
Clayton Mortensen on September 30, 2012.jpg
Mortensen with the Boston Red Sox
Pitcher
Born: (1985-04-10) April 10, 1985 (age 39)
Rexburg, Idaho, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox
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