Tyler Clippard is one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the major leagues. The combination of his unique delivery, steeply dropping changeups and letter-high fastballs baffles batters and makes him a highly valued bullpen weapon for the Washington Nationals. He was the team’s lone representative in the 2011 All-Star Game and picked up the win in the National League’s 5-1 victory. Clippard finished his fourth season with Washington with an impressive 1.83 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, both of which put him tops among NL relievers with at least 75 innings pitched, a 3-0 record and 104 strikeouts. That success was built upon his 2010 season, his first at the Nats’ primary setup man, where he compiled an 11-8 record and 3.07 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched.  Drafted straight out of Florida's JW Mitchell High School by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 2003 MLB Draft, Clippard has improved in virtually every year of his young and promising career. He arrived in the majors in May of 2007 and memorably twirled a six-inning gem in his big league debut against the New York Mets. Pitching in the Subway Series in front of a national TV audience, Clippard held the Mets to just a single run over six innings while striking out six. He left the mound to a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd, and the bullpen closed out his first big league win. He went on to start six games that season for the Yankees and posted a 3-1 record. The following winter, Clippard was traded to the Nationals and subsequently transitioned to the bullpen.

Born:  February 14, 1985 | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 200lb. | Bats: Right | Throws: Right | High School: J.W. Mitchell, FL | Team: Washington Nationals

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