Alex Clemmey, former Hendricken star, key part of trade deadline deal; where he's going

Alex Clemmey has graduated from coveted Major League Baseball draft pick in 2023 to centerpiece of a deadline deal in 2024.

The former standout at Bishop Hendricken was a headliner in a Monday evening trade between the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals. Clemmey and two fellow prospects were exchanged for veteran outfielder Lane Thomas.

Multiple national outlets broke news of the deal less than 24 hours ahead of the 6 p.m. trade deadline on Tuesday. Clemmey made 19 starts for Class-A Lynchburg in his first full season of professional baseball and was a consensus top-10 prospect in Cleveland’s system. The Guardians sent Clemmey, shortstop Rafael Ramirez Jr. and third baseman Jose Tena to the Nationals for Thomas.

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Clemmey has gradually gained steam into the summer months after a rocky spring. The left-handed Middletown native’s last 11 starts have covered 43⅓ innings, with Clemmey allowing just 28 hits and striking out 63. He’s pitched to a 2.28 earned-run average by cutting down his walks — he issued 24 in his first 26 innings this season but just 23 during this most recent stretch.

Clemmey was selected in the second round last July, the 58th overall pick in the draft. He passed up a commitment to Vanderbilt and signed with the Guardians for $2.3 million, a number that was $900,000 above his suggested slot value. Clemmey reported to the club’s Arizona spring training complex and worked out there for the remainder of the summer.

Clemmey was rated the No. 7 prospect in Cleveland’s system per Baseball America and the No. 8 prospect for the Guardians according to MLB Pipeline. He was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after pitching to a 0.42 ERA and striking out 105 in 10 starts. Clemmey was a top-50 draft prospect according to Baseball America and was among a host of potential Commodores who elected to bypass college baseball for the minor leagues.

Ramirez is also a Class-A teenager, an international signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. Tena is a 23-year-old who debuted with Cleveland last season and has played in 21 games in the big leagues. He’s currently at Triple-A Columbus and has compiled an .846 OPS in 90 games this season.

The Guardians are chasing an American League playoff berth and add a needed right-handed bat in Thomas, who entered the week slashing .253/.331/.407 with 27 extra-base hits and 28 steals. He’s under team control through the 2025 season and signed for $2.2 million in arbitration prior to the season. Cleveland leads the Minnesota Twins in the A.L. Central by 4½ games and trails only the Philadelphia Phillies in total wins with 63.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Alex Clemmey, former Hendricken star, key part of trade deadline deal; where he's going