Detroit Tigers second baseman Kody Clemens was disillusioned.

And for good purpose.

Now 24 years outdated, the No. 79 general decide in 2018 and son of seven-time Cy Younger winner Roger Clemens, was banking on optimistic outcomes this previous season. He climbed to Double-A Erie in 2019 however crumbled with a .170 batting common in 13 video games.

He was presupposed to get one other probability in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic did not enable him the chance, because the minor-league season was canceled. Prime prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene acquired the luxurious of summer time camp and the alternate coaching web site in Toledo; Clemens was left with nothing to measure his growth.

That is till Clemens joined Staff Texas within the Constellation Power League. He acquired 103 plate appearances in 28 video games, salvaging a troublesome 12 months. Regardless of dropping a 12 months of growth within the Tigers’ system, he thinks the impartial league gave him a brand new perspective earlier than he returned to the Tigers within the crew’s tutorial league this October in Lakeland, Florida.

“I acquired to see these skilled guys,” Clemens stated Monday. “And see what I would wish to deal with sooner or later — Double-A, Triple-A, the large leagues. They know tips on how to pitch up within the zone, down within the zone. Now I do know precisely what I can deal with.

“And I used to be doing fairly high quality in that league, in order that clearly gave me lots of confidence.”

Infielder Kody Clemens practices throughout Detroit Tigers spring coaching at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.

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Clemens confronted a wide range of pitchers, together with Bud Norris (10 MLB seasons), 43-year-old Fernando Rodney (17 MLB seasons), Scott Kazmir (three-time All-Star), Brett Eibner (Miami Marlins) and Chase De Jong (Houston Astros).

Additionally, he was teammates with MLB vets Cameron Rupp (catcher) and Tommy Joseph (first base). An older brother, Kacy, was additionally on the crew, which was managed by dad Roger and brother Koby. Infielder Trei Cruz, chosen by the Tigers No. 73 general in 2020, performed 25 video games within the league for the Japanese Reyes del Tigre.

Clemens completed with a .233 batting common, six doubles, one triple, 4 homers and 12 RBIs in 90 at-bats. He’s the No. 19 prospect within the Tigers’ group, in keeping with MLB Pipeline.

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“The common age in that league was really in all probability 28, or one thing like that,” Clemens stated. “It was a extra skilled league. Down right here, you’ve got acquired lots of flamethrowers, youthful guys that throw 95-100 (mph). It is good for each side of it. I acquired to see skilled, veteran guys who nibble the corners and throw cutters at 90-93.”

Throughout Clemens’ second 12 months as an expert in 2019, he hit .231 with 12 residence runs and 63 RBIs. He had a .238 mark in Excessive-A Lakeland for 115 video games earlier than struggling by 47 at-bats in 13 video games in Erie. Groups began to implement the shift towards him.

As a left-handed hitter, Clemens was ok — .284 batting common, 34 homers, 123 RBIs in 176 video games — to maintain the protection sincere in his three seasons at Texas. However life on the plate is not as simple as an expert. Everybody is superior, particularly the Double-A pitchers.

“I rode with it the entire 12 months,” Clemens stated in regards to the shift. “This offseason, after I acquired to play within the Constellation League, I began to work on (hitting the alternative means). I do know I can unfold these guys out and make them return to their common spots.”

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On Oct. 14, Clemens had a single to proper area towards the Toronto Blue Jays. He had the same single in Friday’s conflict with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Monday, once more dealing with the Blue Jays, he drove a single up the center. Clemens’ two singles pulled to proper area, every beating the shift within the course of, had been inside pitches — one a slider, the opposite a fastball. His single up the center got here on a first-pitch fastball.

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Nonetheless, Clemens is making an attempt to place an emphasis on hitting the ball to the left-center hole in tutorial league video games and intrasquad scrimmages. If he can try this, he ought to surge by the minors rapidly.

“I had him for almost all of final 12 months, he would hit proper into the shift,” stated Excessive-A Lakeland supervisor Andrew Graham, the Tigers’ tutorial league skipper this fall. “However immediately, he hits it with sufficient exit velocity to burn the shift. He is squaring up the baseball higher.

“He performed within the independent-ball league, so he is somewhat extra superior than some guys. He is wanting good this camp. He is driving the ball out of the ballpark on the again fields.”

Clemens should make strides on the plate so as to have a shot on the main leagues, however he is aware of the Tigers lack depth at second base. Earlier than the 2020 season, they signed Jonathan Schoop to a one-year deal. They’re anticipated to deliver one other participant in on a short-term deal for 2021.

That retains the door open for Clemens’ emergence.

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“That clearly feels actually good in my place, that I am working my butt off down right here, making an attempt to make it up and make an impression,” Clemens stated. “I am doing all the things I can, whether or not it is weight room, defensive work, hitting, to search out each which means that I would like to enhance. Hopefully, it will make me extra constant and make my means up the ladder. I am simply wanting ahead to the long run.”

Clemens’ father, Roger, left him with some closing recommendation earlier than his departure for the academic league in Lakeland.

Be grateful.

“Not lots of gamers acquired to try this,” Roger advised him. “You are going to be one step forward of everyone else.”

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Evan Petzold is a sports activities reporting intern on the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or comply with him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: What Detroit Tigers prospect Kody Clemens discovered in Texas league