Meet a Rising Boston Red Sox Prospect Not Named Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer

Left-hander Brandon Clarke is drawing attention in the Boston farm system, pitching at High-A Greenville.

A detailed view of a Boston Red Sox cap, sunglasses and glove in the dugout during a spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.

Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony.

Talk about Boston Red Sox prospects and those are the first two names to roll off the tongue.

But MLB.com this week identified what it called “each club’s most pleasant prospect surprise” and unearthed the name of a promising, under-the-radar left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox: Brandon Clarke.

The 22-year-old Clarke is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 29 prospect in the Red Sox farm system. He joined the team as a fifth-round pick in 2024 out of the Florida junior college ranks.

In high school in Virginia, Clarke had Tommy John surgery and then faced thoracic issues. Slated to pitch in college at Alabama, he was forced to redshirt in 2022, then went to junior college the following season and threw only 3.2 innings. But in 2024, he impressed with 107 strikeouts in 74.1 innings before the draft. The Red Sox got a chance to see him in action at the MLB combine.

Clarke started his first pro season at Single-A Salem, making three appearances before being promoted to High-A Greenville in late April. In all, he’s 0-1 with a 2.29 ERA in six starts. Over 19.2 innings, he has struck out 33 batters and walked eight, giving up just five hits. His flaw? Six hit batters.

Seventh strikeout for Brandon Clarke in his High-A debut. That’ll end his day.

Final line for the Boston Red Sox prospect:

4 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 7 K

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/UqjjwF2S3W

— Hunter Noll (@Hunter_Noll) April 30, 2025

Here’s what MLB.com wrote about Clarke this week, in part:

“He has proven more advanced than expected in his pro debut while sitting at 96-97 mph with his heater and unveiling an upper-80s slider and improved control.”

Clarke is one for the Red Sox and fans to keep an eye on at Greenville and as he progresses up the minor league ladder.

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