Who the hell is Clay Buchholz? Most Red Sox fans barely knew him before he tossed his no-hit gem Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. It was just his second major league start making him the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in first or second major league start.
He joins Bobo Holloman who did it in his major league debut on May 6, 1953 with the St. Louis Browns. He no-hit the Philadelphia Athletics, 6-0 in Sportsman’s Park. Wilson Alvarez did it in his second career start for the Chicago White Sox on August 11, 1991 when he no-hit the Baltimore Orioles 7-0, in Memorial Stadium. It was Alvarez’ first start with Chicago, his previous major league start came in 1989 with Texas. He was just 21 years old when he threw his no-hitter.
The Red Sox drafted Buchholz in the first round (42nd overall) of the 2005 draft out of Angelina Junior College. The 6’3″ right hander is from Lumberton TX and just turned 23 three days prior to his major league debut in August. Many people compare him as the right-handed version of Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels, who is also 23.
In 2006, his second season in pro ball, he was named the Boston Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year. In stops in Wilmington and Greenville, he made a combined 24 starts compiling an 11-4 record with a 2.42 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. This year in Portland and Pawtucket he had made 23 starts going 8-5 with a 2.80 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
He gained notoriety earlier this season when pitching for Portland he was matched up against Roger Clemens on his minor league rehab tour in a game televised on ESPN. In the eyes the writers, executives and scouts that were present he out pitched the 350 game winner and future hall of fame member. That’s huge praise and a lot of pressure to put on a 22 year old but his pitching coaches say he has ice water in his veins and nothing bothers him on the mound.
In fact he looked more collected on the mound than answering questions from NESN’s Tina Cervasio immediately following his feat.
Widely considered the best pitching prospect Boston has developed since Clemens, Buchholz throws hard he can top out at 97 mph but usually is in the 92-94 mph range. He also has a nasty big over the top 12 to 6 curve ball, that scouts say is the best of any pitcher in the Boston organization at any level. Add in a change up, a great mound presence as well as composure and this kids stuff is devastating. Just ask the Baltimore Orioles.
What a lot of people don’t know about Buchholz is that while he went in the first round as pitcher, scouts say he could have gone in the 5th round as a position player. He is extremely athletic and he showed it Saturday night when he made an awkward looking stab of a hard hit ball back towards the mound.
It shouldn’t surprise you that as a Texan his idols are Nolan Ryan and Clemens. But he says he has also learned a lot from Curt Schilling and Jason Varitek. During the no-hitter it appeared that he never shook Varitek off once. He put all his faith in his veteran catcher and it paid off. The pair worked seamlessly continually backing up pitches. (Ed. Note: a pitcher backs up pitches when he throws the same pitch to the same batter back-to-back.) The duo also wasn’t afraid to throw any pitch in any count. You saw this when in several 2-0 hitter’s counts, where typically the batter can expect a fastball, Buchholz wasn’t shy about throwing his curve or a change up.
Buck, as he is known to his teammates, has all the intangibles to go far. He has the make up of an ace and the talent of one to boot. Watching his two major league starts you can see this kid is the real deal. Folks we have seen the future, his name is Clay Buchholz.
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