{{short description|American baseball player (born 1993)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Sam Clay |image = Sam Clay (52033441910) (cropped).jpg |caption = Clay with the Washington Nationals in 2022 |team = Free agent |number = |position = Pitcher |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|21}} |birth_place = Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |bats = Left |throws = Left |debutleague = MLB |debutyear = 2021 |debutdate = April 7 |debutteam = Washington Nationals |statleague = MLB |statyear = 2022 season |stat1label = Win–loss record |stat1value = 0–5 |stat2label = Earned run average |stat2value = 5.90 |stat3label = Strikeouts |stat3value = 39 |teams = * Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}}) * New York Mets ({{mlby|2022}}) }} '''Samuel Thomas Hunter Clay''' (born June 21, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and New York Mets. The Minnesota Twins selected Clay in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2021.
==Amateur career== Clay attended Buford High School in Buford, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/sports/high-schools/bufords-clay-signs-baseball-scholarship-with-georgia-tech/|title=Buford's Clay signs baseball scholarship with Georgia Tech}}</ref> He enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
==Professional career== ===Minnesota Twins=== As a draft-eligible sophomore, the Minnesota Twins selected Clay in the fourth round, with the 110th overall pick, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ramblinwreck.com/clay-drafted-by-minnesota-in-fourth-round/|title=Clay drafted by Minnesota in fourth round|agency=Georgia Tech|date=June 6, 2014|access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins, recording a 5.59 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 19 games. Clay split the 2015 campaign between Elizabethton and the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, accumulating a combined 1-6 record and 3.61 ERA with 73 strikeouts over {{fraction|72|1|3}} innings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam Clay - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/sam-clay/16279/dashboard?position=P|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}</ref>
Clay split the 2016 season between Single-A Cedar Rapids and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, accumulating a 6-7 record and 4.60 ERA with 115 strikeouts across {{fractions|115|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam Clay, Miles Nordgren and Daniel Kihle promoted to Fort Myers|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-188491354|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, he made 43 relief appearances for Fort Myers and the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, registering a cumulative 9-0 record and 1.87 ERA with 67 strikeouts and nine saves across {{fraction|67|1|3}} innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minnesota Twins 2017 Minor League Awards|url=https://puckettspond.com/2017/09/06/minnesota-twins-2017-minor-league-awards/|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=puckettspond.com|language=en}}</ref> Clay returned to Chattanooga in 2018, logging a 2-6 record and 5.88 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched across 34 appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam Clay - Baseball Statistics|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/173099/|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, Clay played for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. In 45 appearances split between the two affiliates, he compiled a 4-4 record and 3.25 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 10 saves across {{fraction|69|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Clay 'shell-shocked' by contract with Nats|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/sam-clay-major-league-contract-with-nationals|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2020, he was a non-roster invitee to Minnesota's 60-man player pool, working out at the alternate training site at CHS Field in St. Paul.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-sam-clay-part-of-60-man-player-pool/|agency=CBS Sports|title=Twins' Sam Clay: Part of 60-man player pool|date=June 29, 2020|access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> The season was subsequently cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> The Twins never added Clay to their major league roster, and he became a minor league free agent after the 2020 season on November 2, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 17, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Washington Nationals=== On November 18, 2020, the Washington Nationals announced they had signed Clay to a major league contract, adding him to a major league roster for the first time in his playing career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2020/11/18/21573661/washington-nationals-sign-sam-clay-major-league-deal-left-handed-bullpen-arm|agency=Federal Baseball|title=Washington Nationals sign Sam Clay to major league deal...|first=Patrick|last=Reddington|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> On April 6, 2021, Clay was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/nationals-set-opening-day-roster.html|title = Nationals Set Opening Day Roster| date=April 6, 2021 }}</ref> He made his MLB debut the next day, throwing a shutout inning against the Atlanta Braves. Clay made 58 appearances for Washington during his rookie campaign, compiling an 0-5 record and 5.60 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 45 innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam Clay 2021 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/42602/year/2021/category/pitching|access-date=July 19, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref>
Clay made six appearances for the Nationals in 2022, struggling to a 10.38 ERA with three strikeouts in {{fraction|4|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sam Clay 2022 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/42602/year/2022/category/pitching|access-date=July 19, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> He was designated for assignment by Washington on July 1, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nationals Designate Sam Clay For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/nationals-dfa-sam-clay.html|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
On July 5, 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies claimed Clay off of waivers from the Nationals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies Claim Sam Clay|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/phillies-claim-sam-clay-pitcher-waivers-nationals.html|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He did not appear for the organization before was designated for assignment on July 8, following Kent Emanuel's activation from the injured list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies Designate Sam Clay For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/phillies-designate-sam-clay-for-assignment.html|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
===New York Mets=== On July 10, 2022, Clay was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mets Claim Sam Clay Off Waivers, Designate Jake Reed|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/mets-claim-sam-clay-off-waivers-designate-jake-reed.html|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He tossed one scoreless inning of relief before he was designated for assignment on August 20.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mets Select Nate Fisher, Designate Sam Clay|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/mets-to-select-nate-fisher.html|access-date=July 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> Clay cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets on August 23.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mets' Sam Clay: Remains in organization|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-sam-clay-remains-in-organization/|access-date=June 13, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 24, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 19 games in Syracuse, Clay registered a 3.97 ERA with 25 strikeouts in {{fraction|22|2|3}} innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
===Detroit Tigers=== On December 12, 2022, Clay signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks that included an invitation to spring training.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/Aces/status/1602507121819631621|title=Reno Aces on Twitter|newspaper=Twitter|access-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref> Clay was released by the organization prior to the start of the season on March 24, 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-03-24/p-1 | title=Transactions }}</ref>
On April 30, 2023, Clay signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/05/tigers-sign-sam-clay-to-minor-league-deal.html|title=Tigers Sign Sam Clay To Minor League Deal|date=May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers' Sam Clay: Catches on with Detroit|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-sam-clay-catches-on-with-detroit/amp/|access-date=May 1, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> In 42 games for the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, he logged a 6–3 record and 5.16 ERA with 53 strikeouts across {{fraction|52|1|3}} innings of work. Clay elected free agency following the season on November 6.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 23, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Olmecas de Tabasco=== On May 26, 2024, Clay signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=OlmecasTabasco|number=1794861734861357510|title=D💣ming💣 de bienvenidas estelares. El estadounidense Sam Clay lanzará lumbre con la camiseta Olmeca 😎 #SomosOlmecas👊🏽⚾️|date=May 26, 2024|language=ES|access-date=May 27, 2024}}</ref> In 16 games for Tabasco, he struggled to a 7.15 ERA with 11 strikeouts across {{fraction|11|1|3}} innings pitched. Clay was waived by the Olmecas on July 4.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de julio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-julio-de-2024|access-date=July 5, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Leones de Yucatán=== On July 5, 2024, Clay was claimed off waivers by the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 5 de julio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-5-de-julio-de-2024|access-date=July 6, 2024|website=milb.com|language=es}}</ref> In 11 games for Yucatán, he logged a 1–1 record and 3.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts across {{fraction|10|1|3}} innings pitched.
===Rieleros de Aguascalientes=== On October 23, 2024, Clay was traded to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes in exchange for Shea Spitzbarth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 23 de octubre de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-23-de-octubre-de-2024|access-date=November 13, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}</ref> In 21 appearances for Aguascalientes in 2025, he compiled a 1-0 record and 5.89 ERA with 18 strikeouts across {{fraction|18|1|3}} innings pitched. Clay was released by the Rieleros on June 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 5 de junio de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-5-de-junio-de-2025|access-date=June 6, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
===Pericos de Puebla=== On June 11, 2025, Clay signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. In four appearances for Puebla, he struggled to a 10.80 ERA with no strikeouts and one saves across {{fraction|1|2|3}} innings pitched. Clay was released by the Pericos on June 20.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 20 de junio de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-20-de-junio-de-2025|access-date=June 21, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
===High Point Rockers=== On July 24, 2025, Clay signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=High Point Rockers Add Former MLB Hurler Sam Clay to Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/high-point-rockers-add-former-mlb-hurler-sam-clay-to-roster/n-6259611|access-date=July 24, 2025|website=oursportscentral.com|language=en}}</ref> In three appearances for High Point, he struggled to a 16.88 ERA with three strikeouts across {{fraction|2|2|3}} innings pitched. Clay was released by the Rockers on September 2.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Transactions|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=34102|access-date=September 7, 2025|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Pitching style== Clay is noted as an extreme groundball pitcher who rarely allows home runs. His pitching arsenal includes a sinking fastball and an above-average curveball.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/nationals-sign-sam-clay-twins.html|agency=MLB Trade Rumors|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 18, 2020|title=Nationals Sign Sam Clay To Major League Contract|first=Steve|last=Adams}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats|mlb=621348|espn=42602|br=c/claysa01|fangraphs=16279|brm=clay--000sam|retro=C/Pclays001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clay, Sam}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball players from Knoxville, Tennessee Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Washington Nationals players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:New York Mets players Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players Category:Elizabethton Twins players Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players Category:Fort Myers Miracle players Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players Category:Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Category:Rochester Red Wings players Category:Mankato MoonDogs players Category:Buford High School (Georgia) alumni Category:Baseball players from Gwinnett County, Georgia Category:Olmecas de Tabasco players Category:Leones de Yucatán players Category:Rieleros de Aguascalientes players Category:Mexican Baseball League pitchers Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Pericos de Puebla players Category:High Point Rockers players