Taylor James Clarke (born May 13, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Major League Baseball Kansas City Royals (MLB). He formerly played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. Clarke was born with paralysis of the muscles on the right side of his face.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Clarke in the third round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Diamondbacks and spent his professional season with the Hillsboro Hops of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, where he did not give up a run in 21 innings pitched.
Clarke spent the 2016 season with the Kane County Cougars, Visalia Rawhide, and the Mobile BayBears, where he posted a combined 12–9 record and 3.31 ERA in 149.1 innings pitched with the three clubs.
In 2017, he played for both the Jackson Generals and the Reno Aces, pitching to a combined 12–9 record and 3.35 ERA in 145 total innings between both teams. He spent all of 2018 with AAA Reno Aces going 13–8 with a 4.03 ERA.
Following the 2021 season, on November 30, 2021, Clarke was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks, making him a free agent. On December 1, Clarke signed a major league contract with the Kansas City Royals.
Taylor Clarke is currently married to his namesake, Taylor, but he has managed to keep his personal life away from the public, the couple has children as well.