Zach Clark

Zachary Higgins Clark (born April 10, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013.

Playing career Clark graduated from Newark High School in Newark, Delaware, in 2001. By 2010, Clark was promoted to the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League, the highest level of minor league baseball.

Clark posted a strong breakout season in 2012 for the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and Norfolk, posting a 15-7 win–loss record with a 2.79 earned run average between the two teams. The Orioles added Clark to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Clark began the 2013 season with Norfolk. On May 1, 2013, Clark was called up to the Orioles, where he was expected to be a part of the bullpen. Clark made his major league debut that same night against the Seattle Mariners, coming on in relief of Wei-Yin Chen in the bottom of the 5th inning. He went innings in his debut, allowing three hits and three earned runs. Clark was designated for assignment on May 4, 2013. Clark experienced a hamstring injury, and struggled for the remainder of the season. Clark became a free agent at the end of the season, and re-signed with the Orioles on a new minor league contract.

The Orioles did not assign Clark to a minor league affiliate at the start of the 2014 season, as he worked on his knuckleball in extended spring training. In June, the Orioles opted not to assign Clark to the Aberdeen Ironbirds of the Low-A New York–Penn League, and instead released him.

Camden Riversharks On June 25, 2014, Clark signed with the Camden Riversharks of the unaffiliated Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and scrapped the knuckleball. In 7 starts for Camden, he posted a 2-3 record and 3.00 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 36 innings pitched.

Clark made 13 appearances (11 starts) for Camden in 2015, accumulating a 2-5 record and 6.56 ERA with 29 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Somerset Patriots On August 1, 2016, Clark signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 8 games (6 starts) for the Patriots, he posted a 2-1 record and 4.28 ERA with 12 strikeouts across innings pitched. Clark became a free agent following the season.

Post-playing career After retiring from professional baseball, Clark was hired as a scout for the Houston Astros. He was let go in 2017 as part of restructuring by the organization.

Clark was soon after hired by the Tampa Bay Rays' scouting department, and currently serves as an Area Supervisor scout.