With the No. 32 pick overall in the 2013 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected outfielder Aaron Judge.
I think it’s safe to say that move paid off, with the slugger winning the 2022 American League MVP Award after setting a new single-season AL record with 62 home runs while contending for the Triple Crown.
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With the No. 33 pick overall in the 2013 MLB Draft, the Yankees selected left-hander Ian Clarkin.
I think it’s safe to say that move was a bust.
YardBarker reports “Clarkin signed a minor league contract with the Mariners late last month. He was assigned to Seattle’s Double-A affiliate (the Arkansas Travelers) on Friday.”
Clarkin, a career minor leaguer, spent five seasons in the Yankees organization before going to the Chicago White Sox in the 2017 trade for third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle.
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Clarkin’s pro career got off to a rough start, saying he “cannot stand” the Yankees in a video recorded before he was drafted by New York, according to ESPN.
Immediately after Clarkin was announced as the final pick, No. 33, of the first round, MLB Network rolled a video in which the 18-year-old left-hander said his top baseball moment growing up was watching the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Yankees on Luis Gonzalez’s game-winning blooper off Mariano Rivera. “I cannot stand the Yankees, so I was actually in tears I was so happy,” Clarkin said on the nationally televised broadcast.
Clarkin later asked for forgiveness in his initial availability with the New York media, saying “First and foremost, I want to apologize to all the Yankee fans for my comments.”
It’s worth noting Clarkin said his mom, who was born in New Jersey, is a “die-hard Yankees fan.”
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.