Jason Clarke

Jason Dennis Clarke (J.D.)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

• School St. Thomas University

• Born October 17, 1975, in Frederiksted, St. Croix. U.S. Virgin Islands

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Like his father, Horace Clarke, and older brother, Jeff Clarke, Jason Clarke was a switch-hitting middle infielder. J.D. enjoyed a successful college career at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. He was named Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year in 1998. The Chicago Cubs signed him as a free agent on the recommendation of scout Sandy Alomar, Sr., an old friend of the Clarke parents.

Clarke made a strong impression in rookie ball for the AZL Cubs in 1998, hitting .343/.397/.514 with 30 runs and 25 RBI in 35 games. He was 5th in the Arizona League in average, between Junior Roman and Shawn Garrett. He dropped off to .240/.307/.295 with 24 runs and 29 RBI in 81 games in 1999 in Single-A for the Daytona Cubs, backing up Franklin Font at short and Dennis Abreu at second base. He remained with the same club, Daytona, in 2000, but was released after appearing in just 13 games (8 for 42, 2 2B, 2 BB, HR). Overall, he had hit .266/.327/.365 in 129 minor league games, with 18 home runs and 17 steals in 24 tries. He fielded .945. Other organizations showed interest, but Clarke decided at that time to quit pro ball.