WILMINGTON, DE - I recently sat down with the Washington Nationals’ No. 5 prospect, Alex Clemmey, who is pitching for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. As of the 2025 season, Clemmey holds a record of two wins and four losses, with a 3.33 ERA over 48 2/3 innings pitched. He has started all 12 games in which he’s appeared, recording 71 strikeouts. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) stands at 1.58, and opponents are batting just .200 against him.

This marks Clemmey’s first full season in the Nationals’ farm system. He arrived in Fredericksburg on July 29, 2024, after the Nationals traded center fielder Lane Thomas to the Cleveland Guardians. Clemmey went on to start 19 games for the Fredericksburg Nationals and was part of the team that won the Carolina League last year.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks began the season with three consecutive losses to the Brooklyn Cyclones in New York. Their first win came on April 10, a milestone that now feels like a distant memory.

Asked about the season so far in Wilmington, Clemmey said, “Yeah, it’s been great. We’ve picked up some success. We had a slow start, but the guys are starting to rally together and put some good games together. Pitching has been great, bats have been great. It’s been a great time, and we’re just continuing to develop and get better on a daily basis.”

Indeed, both pitching and offense have come alive. On May 1, Wilmington’s offense erupted in an 8-7 win over Brooklyn, followed by another 8-5 victory on May 3. On June 4, pitcher Travis Sthele delivered a dominant performance, throwing a complete game with one hit, two strikeouts, no runs, no walks, and no errors.

It’s not just one player having a breakout year. Clemmey’s strikeout numbers are impressive—71 before the first half of the season is even over. On June 1 against the Hudson Valley Renegades, he notched nine strikeouts in five innings, contributing to his 31 strikeouts in May alone.

Another pitcher, Erik Tolman, has also shown improvement. His ERA dropped from double digits to single digits and has remained there. In May, Tolman recorded 18 strikeouts over seven starts. Last week marked a significant milestone for the Blue Rocks and the Nationals organization, with Travis Sykora making his High-A debut, pitching five innings with seven strikeouts, allowing only three hits and two runs, and issuing no walks.

Clemmey has delivered strong performances throughout the 2025 season. On May 23 against the Aberdeen IronBirds, he allowed five hits over four innings and recorded five strikeouts. He has surrendered only two home runs this season, equating to just 0.4 home runs per nine innings. His ERA remains a solid 3.33.

Clemmey attributes his success to “getting ahead of hitters and putting hitters away early in counts, or getting big contact early. But the biggest thing is just getting comfortable out there. It takes time, and being able to repeat that feeling has led to some great success. I’m just looking forward to continuing to build and get better every day and keep winning ball games for this team.”

While every pitcher’s approach to going deep into games varies, Clemmey came close to a complete game in May against Hudson Valley, pitching 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts, though he ultimately took the loss. The key takeaway is his growing ability to pitch deep into games.

Building endurance is essential for any pitcher. While Ben McDonald, a former Golden Spikes Award winner, built stamina by running five miles a day, Clemmey’s approach is different.

“Yeah, I think it’s just kind of throwing a million different things out there, and putting a plan together to repeat on a daily basis,” Clemmey said. “It’s all about preparation, recovery, sleep, the way you eat, the way you treat your body. That’s what sets you up to go deeper into games.”

Clemmey summarized his philosophy: “The hard work shows on the field. The hardest work is when no one’s watching. That’s when you put your head down and grind so you can shine when the lights are brightest.”

Clemmey opened the 2025 season with a 6.00 ERA in his first start in Brooklyn. However, he quickly rebounded, striking out 10 in his next start and dropping his ERA to 2.25. His ERA has remained consistent since then. In his last start on May 27, his ERA was 3.57, which fell to 3.33 after his second outing in June. In that game, he did not allow any home runs but did give up two earned runs.

Reflecting on tough innings, Clemmey said, “It’s all about pacing yourself, having confidence. One bad inning doesn’t define your start or your season. You just put it behind you, go out there, compete, and try to win as many innings as you can.”

Offseason and spring training are crucial for players to prepare both mentally and physically for the season. For Clemmey, preparation meant “understanding what I need to do to prepare myself daily to be successful. It was about making a plan, attacking weaknesses, turning negatives into positives, and creating a winning atmosphere.”

The Wilmington Blue Rocks currently have a record of 26 wins and 33 losses, sitting 15 games back from first place in their division. With plenty of baseball left before the first half concludes, Wilmington is working to control its destiny.

Clemmey said the team has taught him, “Just keep a good mental attitude 24/7. One bad start doesn’t define a season. There are so many things that will happen throughout your career. One start doesn’t define anything. If you keep a level head and work hard every day, results will come.”

While the team is batting a collective .217, its offensive firepower has been evident in key wins. The Blue Rocks are striving to become a dangerous ball club, with all the pieces slowly coming together. With much of the season still ahead, the team’s chemistry, built from playing and training together, could be a difference-maker.