Holt's Alleman, Grand Ledge's Clouse taken in MLB draft
Former MSU pitcher Alleman also taken in 2012 draft out of Holt High; both were LSJ Players of the Year
Justin Alleman’s baseball future once again is in his hands. So is Corbin Clouse’s.
The former Holt High and Michigan State pitcher was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Saturday.
Former Grand Ledge star Clouse was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 27th round with the 799th overall pick.
Both college underclassmen have until July 15 to decide whether to sign a pro contract or return to school in the fall.
Alleman, a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher at Lee University, left MSU after his sophomore season in 2014 for the Division II school in Cleveland, Tennessee. He went 6-5 with a 5.29 ERA, 74 strikeouts and 13 walks in 64 2/3 innings for the Flames this spring after sitting out last season.
Alleman’s 2014 season with the Spartans ended due to shoulder tightness before they played in the Big Ten Tournament. He announced he was leaving the program shortly after the season ended.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Alleman was a 16th-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 2012 MLB draft after his senior season at Holt.
Alleman went 6-2 in 95 innings over 14 starts as a sophomore at MSU, finishing with a 2.75 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 32 walks while holding opposing batters to just a .208 average against him. As a freshman, Alleman served as the Spartans’ closer and saved a team-high seven games. The 2012 LSJ Player of the Year and three-time Dream Team member was 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 29 innings in 2013.
Clouse, a redshirt sophomore pitcher, was the LSJ Player of the Year in 2013. The 6-foot, 227-pound left-hander went 5-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 50 innings for Davenport, an NAIA school in Grand Rapids. He struck out 75 and walked 25, allowing just 25 hits in 11 appearances en route to an All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference honorable mention. The Panthers won all eight of the games Clouse started.
Contact Chris Solari at (517) 377-1070, csolari@lsj.com or on Twitter at @chrissolari.