Brady Clark getting ready for Spring Training
Brady Clark (photo) is a 1991 graduate of Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon and 1996
graduate of the University of San Diego. He was a West Coast Conference
All-Star in 1995. Clark was signed as an undrafted free
agent by the Cincinnati Reds in 1996. In 1999, he hit .326 with 17
homers and 25 steals in the minors. He was honored with a selection as a Double-A
All-Star, Southern League All-Star and Southern League Most Valuable
Player. Clark made his major league debut on September 3, 2000, as a
pinch hitter against the Montreal Expos and he recorded his first big
league hit on September 13 vs the Chicago Cubs. His first home run was
against Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle as the leadoff hitter in
the 1st inning on June 13, 2001.Clark was traded by the Reds to the New
York Mets on August 15, 2002 for Shawn Estes. He played in 10 games for
the Mets, primarily as a pinch hitter in 2002, getting 5 hits in 12 at
bats.He was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers from the New
York Mets in 2003. Following the 2004 season the Brewers traded
starting center fielder Scott Podsednik for Carlos Lee, clearing the
way for Brady Clark to become the starting center fielder. Clark made
the most of the opportunity in 2005 with a team leading batting average
of .306 with 94 runs scored. Clark established career highs in batting
average, hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBI, sacrifice hits,
hit by pitches, and singles in 145 games played in the 2005 season.
Following Clark's breakout 2005 season, the Brewers and Clark agreed to
a two-year deal . On March 26, 2007, Clark was traded to the Los
Angeles Dodgers and made his Dodgers debut on April 2, 2007, at Miller
Park, his former home ballpark when he played with the Brewers.
Entering the game in the 6th inning, Clark recorded a 9th inning,
one-out double, one of only two Dodger hits on the day off Brewers ace
Ben Sheets.He saw limited playing time with the Dodgers, primarily as a
defensive replacement/pinch runner and was eventually released on June
20, 2007. Brady was signed to a minor league deal by the Boston Red
Sox. He then signed a minor league deal by the San Diego Padres after
being granted his release from the Red Sox on August 6, 2007. He was
playing with the Portland Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Padres
in the Pacific Coast League, until the Padres called Clark up when the
rosters expanded on September 1. On October 1, 2007, Clark played in a
one game Wild Card playoff against the Colorado Rockies. He went 1-4
with one RBI, which came off a fielder's choice. He became a New York
Met for the second time in February 2008. Mets starters' injuries
combined with a solid spring training won Clark a spot on the Mets
opening day roster. However, he was designated for assignment a month
into the season when Moisés Alou returned from an injury. Clark has a
career . 277 batting average over 2115 AB's. He has 559 hits, 36 HR's
210 RBI's and an on base percentage of .358. Brady was injured in 2008
while under contract with the Mets.He has completed his leg rehab and
is preparing for spring training as a free agent.