TUCSON, Ariz. – Recent Wesleyan baseball graduate
Pat Clare '19, Gr. '21 has inked a professional contract with the Tucson Saguaros of the Independent Pecos League in Arizona. Clare is the 12
th Cardinal in program history to play professional baseball and the first since Gavin Pittore '16 played for three seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league organization.
Clare was a six-year contributor on the Wesleyan baseball team as his freshman season was back in 2016. In 40 career appearances as a Cardinal, Clare made 11 starts and sported an 8-8 career record with two saves. In 110.0 innings he struck out 99 batters and owned a 4.34 ERA. Clare was twice named the Walter MacNaughten Memorial Award winner by the team, presented annually in recognition of outstanding baseball achievement by the Class of 1900.
His best season came as a senior in 2019 as Clare went 3-3 with one save while posting a single-season career-best 2.61 ERA in 41.1 innings. After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, Clare made the decision to return for one more year with the Cardinals and in the shortened 2021 campaign he went 2-2 with an impressive 34 strikeouts compared to a league-low five walks in 25.2 innings.
The Tucson Saguaros are a professional baseball team in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs. There are 14 teams in the Pecos League which was founded in 2010. The league operates in cities throughout the desert mountain regions in California, New Mexico, Southern Arizona, Kansas, West Texas and Colorado. Rosters are comprised of 22 players with no DH used in games and the season runs from June 1 through August 5. The Pecos League has promoted 412 players to higher independent and affiliated teams since its founding.
