July 14, 2049
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
When Nobuhito Kan was demoted to Orlando Oranges and placed on an inning restriction, many assumed Steven Clayton would get his shot in the BBA. However, Oranges manager, Luis Hernandez, seemed to have missed the memo and pitched Clayton in that Tuesday’s loss to El Paso. Kan’s spot in the Bluebirds’ was Wednesday and coming off a double header with Louisville Sluggers earlier that weekend, the pitching staff was stretched thin. Thus, Clayton’s anticipated debut was postponed until after the All Star Game. 
RHP Steven Clayton
Adrian Custello left Sunday’s victory against the San Fernando Bears after feeling discomfort in his elbow. He was sent to the injured list and the well-rested Clayton will take his spot in the rotation. Clayton has nothing left to prove in the minors after pitching 124.1 IP with 142 K’s and 1.88 ERA. He was the RHML Pitcher of the Month in April and June and was voted to both the All Star Game and Futures Game.
“We are very excited to see Steven in Nashville,” said GM Chad Nason. “We would have liked to see him sooner, but we didn’t have room in the rotation with our whole staff pitching great this season. Trading away Hasheem Makin was difficult and it would have taken someone like Stephen in return to make it happen.”
Clayton, the #3 overall prospect, was drafted by the Des Moines Kernels with the 4th overall pick in the 2046 amateur draft. He was then traded to Nashville along with Roberto Viramontes, Dave Butler, and Juan Mateo in exchange for Makin, Pedro Mendoza, Marvin Isworth, and Jon Brown. The 21 year old Clayton will be thrown into the best rotation in the Frick League and will have plenty of peers to learn from. His first scheduled start is against the 36-55 Long Beach Surfers in Nashville, removing a little pressure off his first career start.
