Freedom infielder Brizuela signed by Mets; Clark to be inducted into Frontier League Hall of Fame

By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter

In the same week that Florence Freedom infielder Jose Brizuela signed with the New York Mets, former Freedom great Andy Clark received the news that he will be inducted into the Frontier League Hall of Fame.

Three weeks in to the 2018 Frontier League season, the Freedom announced that Brizuela has signed a contract with the New York Mets organization and will be deployed to their Short-Season A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Brizuela was hitting .234 with four home runs at the time of his signing, and his 18 runs batted in were good for fifth in the Frontier League. The Florida State alum had previously been whisked away from Florence on August 8, 2017, by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he hit .353 with four doubles over 16 games for the Advanced A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

“Jose is probably the most deserving guy to get this opportunity,” said fourth-year Freedom manager Dennis Pelfrey, “Brizuela is a pure hitter and has become more athletic so he can play multiple positions in the infield and will hit at any level.”

Originally a 46th-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, Brizuela opted to play at Florida State, where he was again drafted after the 2014 season in the 16th round by the Oakland A’s. While a member of the A’s organization, the native of Maracay, Venezuela, ascended as high as the Advanced A Stockton Ports in 2015 and ‘16 before joining the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League last season.

Brizuela becomes the third Freedom player to sign with the New York Mets in the last calendar year, joining relief pitcher Matt Pobereyko and southpaw starter Marty Anderson. In total, the Florence Freedom organization has sent 37 players to affiliated baseball, including four in 2017 alone.

“He is definitely a guy we can’t replace,” Pelfrey said, “but we wish nothing but the best for Jose.”

Earlier this week, the Frontier League announced that Clark — who spent six seasons with the Freedom — will be inducted into its Hall of Fame as part of the 2018 class. Clark will be enshrined alongside Andrew Davis, Scott Dunn, Eric Massingham, Terry Pearson, and special contributor Duke Ward.

Clark donned the crimson and white from 2008-13, The right-hander from Louisville was considered a workhorse starter who was always ready when needed. Clark tallied a 37-16 career record in 471 2/3 innings on the bump, making 72 starts and compiling a sturdy 3.72 ERA in addition to a 2.85:1 strikeout to walk ratio. His number of starts, career victories and total innings are all top five in Frontier League history.

Clark was a weekend starter for the Freedom during his final season in 2013, traveling individually to meet the team wherever they were playing, as his full-time job as a representative for Anheuser-Busch occupied his weekday working hours. Despite the unorthodox arrangement, the hurler went 3-0 that season while posting a 2.66 earned run average, the second-best of his career.

The 2018 Frontier League Hall of Fame Luncheon and Induction Ceremony will be held at the Trigg Banquet Center in O’Fallon, Missouri, on July 11 at 11:30 a.m. Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and current Fox Sports analyst Brad Thompson will be the Luncheon’s keynote speaker.

David Kubota is a Scripps Howard Foundation intern at the NKyTribune this summer. He is a student at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media.