Roger Clemens’s Son, Kody, Makes MLB Pitching Debut

The Tigers outfielder took the mound for Detroit on Wednesday.

Kody Clemens, the son of former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, made his major league debut as an outfielder for the Tigers earlier this year. However, on Wednesday, he took another step to follow in his father’s footsteps.

With Detroit down 11-0 to the White Sox and looking to save their pitchers, manager A.J. Hinch called on Clemens to pitch in the eighth inning.

We've got a pitching change for Detroit here in the 8th....
Taking the mound is Kody...CLEMENS?!

*Every cliche "like father like son" phrase wakes up from a long, long slumber*
*opens Twitter*
*starts furiously typing* pic.twitter.com/4HHIaRJr3n

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) June 15, 2022

On the Tigers’ broadcast, Dan Dickerson mentioned that Hinch said he missed an opportunity to have Clemens pitch in a blowout loss vs. the Yankees earlier this month, which would’ve really enhanced the “like father like son” idea.

In his pitching debut, Clemens allowed one run on three hits and a walk while throwing just 16 pitches, while also getting out of a bases loaded jam. However, none of his pitches topped 50 miles per hour, with 14 of the 16 pitches landing in the 40s. 

Like father like son?

Kody Clemens gets out of the bases-loaded jam! pic.twitter.com/pQjN6OAjTP

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 15, 2022

It was a respectable appearance for a rookie position player needing to eat an inning, but nothing compared to what his father accomplished.

Clemens wasn’t the only position player to pitch for the Tigers on Wednesday either. Infielder Harold Castro threw a scoreless seventh inning, while catcher Tucker Barnhart also took a turn on the mound in the ninth inning with Detroit down 12. He, too, allowed one run on three hits.

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