Clarke Sidelined Until June After Vascular Procedure

Clarke Sidelined Until June After Vascular Procedure

The Cardinals’ system will be without one of its more intriguing offseason acquisitions for the first half of the 2026 campaign.

Left-hander Brandon Clarke is not expected to be game-ready until June after undergoing a procedure in January to address an aneurysm in his left arm, according to Brian Walton of TheCardinalNation.com. The condition had caused circulation issues, leading to recurring blister problems and numbness in his fingers — a troubling combination for any pitcher, particularly one still refining command and feel.

Clarke was acquired from the Boston Red Sox organization in November as part of the deal that sent veteran right-hander Sonny Gray to Boston. At the time, Clarke was viewed as a developmental arm with upside — a power left-hander whose stuff flashes better than the stat line might suggest.

In 2025, Clarke was limited to 38 innings between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville, posting a 4.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 60:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The strikeout numbers indicate swing-and-miss potential, though the walk rate underscores that refinement remains part of the project.

Health, of course, now becomes the first priority.

Circulation-related issues can be particularly concerning for pitchers. Feel in the fingers is everything — grip, spin efficiency, command. Even minor disruption can snowball mechanically. The fact the issue was identified and addressed surgically is encouraging, but it does push back his developmental timeline.

For a Cardinals organization that has emphasized pitching depth and long-term inventory management, Clarke remains a name to monitor. This is not a finished product. It’s a mid-level prospect with tools — now temporarily paused.

The Cardinals’ player development staff will likely take a cautious approach once he returns to throwing, prioritizing full recovery over rushing innings in April and May. June becomes the new target.

In the big picture, this is a developmental delay — not a derailment.

But in a system that values durability as much as upside, Clarke’s 2026 season now begins with one word:

Patience.

 
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