PETERSBURG – Derek Clark didn’t wait long to sign his professional baseball contract.
The Summerfield graduate was drafted last Monday by the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Before he went to bed, he was under contract. He reported to Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday to begin his pro baseball career.
“It was a pretty fast process,” said Clark, said last week from his home in Petersburg. “It was a pretty surreal and pretty cool experience to be a part of. I’m excited I get to keep playing ball and get to work for a professional baseball team.”
Clark graduated from Summerfield in 2020, a year after pitching for the Bulldogs when they won the Division 4 state championship. He played for Northwood University in Midland for three years, then transferred to West Virginia University for his senior season.
The 22-year-old lefty had an outstanding season for the Mountaineers, going 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA and 91 strikeouts. He led the team in numerous pitching categories, was named All-Big 12 First Team, won a Division 1 Gold Glove and was a third-team All-American.
Pretty much every time he pitched it was in front of major league scouts. Through Monday, four Mountaineers had been drafted, including J.J. Wetherholt, who was taken with the seventh pick overall.
“We had one of the best players in the country on our team, so I tried to take that opportunity and run with it,” Clark said. “There was a good deal with scouts at our games. I played in the Cape Cod League, too, so I know what it’s like to play baseball in front of those guys. You just have to play ball and can’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
With his lease up in West Virginia, Clark returned to Monroe County about three weeks ago. He was watching the draft Monday with family and a few friends when the call came from one of the scouts who had been watching him.
“I’ve talked to him a couple of times prior to the draft,” Clark said. “He called me right before the pick was sent in and told me they were taking me in the ninth round. It was a pretty cool feeling. It’s kind of hard to describe right now. I don’t think it’s really set in just yet. It was awesome to get that call.”
Clark said he’s dreamed of playing professional baseball since kindergarten.
“It’s always been my dream to play in the major leagues and I feel like this is another step in that process,” he said. “There’s more work to be done.”
He said he is likely to be at the Angels training facility in Tempe for a few weeks before being assigned to an another team in the system.
His former coach at Summerfield, Travis Pant, said Clark is an ultra-competitor, leader and teammate.
“He loves to compete against anyone on any stage,” Pant said. “His natural ability to lead in any situation has made him a big part in so many successful teams over the years.”
Clark said he has always had confidence in himself when it came to baseball.
“I’ve always had confidence in myself,” he said. “I feel that is a big part of baseball – just believing in yourself. I work hard and I believe in myself.”