Samuel Thomas Hunter Clay (born June 21, 1993) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

who is a free agent. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

. The

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

selected Clay in the fourth round of the

2014 MLB draft The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...

. He made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2021.

Amateur career

Clay attended Buford High School in

Buford, Georgia Buford is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Gwinnett and Hall County, Georgia, Hall counties in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,144. Most of th ...

. He enrolled at the

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public university, public research university and Institute of technology (United States), institute of technology in Atlanta, ...

, where he played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The teams have also been nicknamed the ...

Professional career

Minnesota Twins

As a draft-eligible sophomore, the

selected Clay in the fourth round, with the 110th overall pick, of the

2014 Major League Baseball draft The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...

. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level

Elizabethton Twins The Elizabethton Twins were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They were located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and were named for their Major League Baseball, major league aff ...

, recording a 5.59 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 19 games. Clay split the 2015 campaign between Elizabethton and the Single-A

Cedar Rapids Kernels The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium (Cedar Rapids), Veter ...

, accumulating a combined 1-6 record and 3.61 ERA with 73 strikeouts over innings. Clay split the 2016 season between Single-A Cedar Rapids and the High-A

Fort Myers Miracle The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Fort Myers, Florida, and play their home games at the Lee County Sports Complex at ...

, accumulating a 6-7 record and 4.60 ERA with 115 strikeouts across innings pitched. In 2017, he made 43 relief appearances for Fort Myers and the Double-A

Chattanooga Lookouts The Chattanooga Lookouts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team plays its home g ...

, registering a cumulative 9-0 record and 1.87 ERA with 67 strikeouts and nine saves across innings of work. Clay returned to Chattanooga in 2018, logging a 2-6 record and 5.88 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched across 34 appearances. In 2019, Clay played for the Double-A

Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League (1964–present), Southern League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home ga ...

and Triple-A

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Fie ...

. In 45 appearances split between the two affiliates, he compiled a 4-4 record and 3.25 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 10 saves across innings pitched. In 2020, he was a non-roster invitee to Minnesota's 60-man player pool, working out at the alternate training site at

CHS Field CHS Field is a baseball park in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is home to the St. Paul Saints of the International League of Minor League Baseball, as well as home to Hamline University's baseball team. With the Saints' affiliation to the ...

St. Paul Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

. The season was subsequently cancelled as a result of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The Twins never added Clay to their major league roster, and he became a minor league free agent after the 2020 season on November 2, 2020.

Washington Nationals

On November 18, 2020, the

announced they had signed Clay to a major league contract, adding him to a major league roster for the first time in his playing career. On April 6, 2021, Clay was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut the next day, throwing a shutout inning against the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

. Clay made 58 appearances for Washington during his rookie campaign, compiling an 0-5 record and 5.60 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 45 innings of work. Clay made six appearances for the Nationals in 2022, struggling to a 10.38 ERA with three strikeouts in innings pitched. He was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

by Washington on July 1, 2022. On July 5, 2022, the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

claimed Clay off of waivers from the Nationals. He did not appear for the organization before was designated for assignment on July 8, following Kent Emanuel's activation from the injured list.

New York Mets

On July 10, 2022, Clay was claimed off waivers by the

. He tossed one scoreless inning of relief before he was

on August 20. Clay cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which ope ...

on August 23. In 19 games in Syracuse, Clay registered a 3.97 ERA with 25 strikeouts in innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.

Detroit Tigers

On December 12, 2022, Clay signed a minor league contract with the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

that included an invitation to spring training. Clay was released by the organization prior to the start of the season on March 24, 2023. On April 30, 2023, Clay signed a minor league contract with the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

organization. In 42 games for the Triple–A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

, he logged a 6–3 record and 5.16 ERA with 53 strikeouts across innings of work. Clay elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Olmecas de Tabasco

On May 26, 2024, Clay signed with the

Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Lea ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. In 16 games for Tabasco, he struggled to a 7.15 ERA with 11 strikeouts across innings pitched. Clay was waived by the Olmecas on July 4.

Leones de Yucatán

On July 5, 2024, Clay was claimed off waivers by the

Leones de Yucatán The Leones de Yucatán (English: Yucatán Lions) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The team plays its home games at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Yucatán. The Leones have won the Mexican League title five times in 1957 ...

of the

. In 11 games for Yucatán, he logged a 1–1 record and 3.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Rieleros de Aguascalientes

On October 23, 2024, Clay was traded to the

Rieleros de Aguascalientes The Rieleros de Aguascalientes (English: Aguascalientes Railroaders) are a professional baseball team based in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes that competes in the Mexican League. Established in 1975, the Rieleros have won the Mexican League cha ...

in exchange for

Shea Spitzbarth Shea Spitzbarth (born October 4, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Amateur career Spitzbarth was born and raised in Staten ...

. In 21 appearances for Aguascalientes in 2025, he compiled a 1-0 record and 5.89 ERA with 18 strikeouts across innings pitched. Clay was released by the Rieleros on June 5, 2025.

Pericos de Puebla

On June 11, 2025, Clay signed with the

Pericos de Puebla The Pericos de Puebla (English: Puebla Parrots) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Puebla. Their home ballpark is the Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán. Established in 1938, the Pericos have won five Mexican League ...

of the

. In four appearances for Puebla, he struggled to a 10.80 ERA with no strikeouts and one saves across innings pitched. Clay was released by the Pericos on June 20.

Pitching style

Clay is noted as an extreme groundball pitcher who rarely allows home runs. His pitching arsenal includes a sinking fastball and an above-average

curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clay, Sam 1993 births Living people Baseball players from Knoxville, Tennessee Major League Baseball pitchers Washington Nationals players 21st-century American sportsmen New York Mets players Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players Elizabethton Twins players Cedar Rapids Kernels players Fort Myers Miracle players Chattanooga Lookouts players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Rochester Red Wings players Mankato MoonDogs players Buford High School (Georgia) alumni Baseball players from Gwinnett County, Georgia Olmecas de Tabasco players Leones de Yucatán players Rieleros de Aguascalientes players Mexican League baseball pitchers American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Pericos de Puebla players