McClure offering training sessions

White Sox pitching prospect and Mentor graduate Kade McClure is offering eight training sessions for pitchers during a four-week period beginning Aug. 13 at Stars Sports Performance.

The further along Kade McClure is in rehab from knee surgery, the quicker the White Sox pitching prospect wants back on the mound.

The Mentor graduate has conceded the book has been closed on the 2018 season. He was hoping to pitch either in the Arizona Fall League or possibly in a winter league, but the White Sox passed on those options.

The time line for McClure’s f ull recovery is some time in late September, early October.

To soothe his competitive itch, McClure has been training at the Mentor-based Stars Sports Performance (7266 Commerce Drive), owned by Evan Twombly, a former Gannon University football player who had NFL and CFL tryouts.

Their friendship developed an idea to offer their knowledge to the area’s youth, which has become a bit of a passion for McClure.

He remembers attending numerous camps as a youth, but wanting more.

“I’m not really sure how much I really learned at those camps,” said McClure.

He, along with Twombly, are hoping to change that by offering eight sessions during a four-week period beginning Aug. 13 at Stars Sports Performance. The sessions are designed specifically for pitchers.

Sessions are twice a week for one hour. The first part of the session is led by Twombly with a focus on building arm strength, balance and total body strength. The second part of the session is led by McClure with a focus on mechanics and repeating the same motion.

The sessions are for ages 8 to 18.

The 2017 sixth-round pick of the White Sox was having a nice season with the Low Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators as a starting pitcher. He made eight starts and emerged as one of the team’s best starting pitchers, but was hurt in May and had knee surgery May 30.

McClure was 3-1 with a solid 3.02 ERA, and had 42 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents hit .265 against him, and his WHIP was 1.37.

This isn’t the first time McClure is giving back to the community. Last October, he and Mitch Longo, a Mayfield graduate and Indians prospect with the High Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats, partnered to create a baseball camp which was held at Mentor High School.

They hope to pair up again for a second camp, but he’s waiting to hear if Longo will be playing for the Indians in their Arizona Fall League.

Longo, an outfielder, is having a solid season at Lynchburg. In 100 games, he’s batting .289 with seven home runs, 42 RBI, 26 doubles and 15 stolen bases.

“We had a lot of fun with last year’s camp,” said McClure. “We’re hoping to get it done, and possibly have it at Mayfield (High School) and a little earlier in September.”

McClure knows how popular football is in Northeast Ohio, and even with the recent success of the Indians, he feels baseball needs a boost, and he wants to do his part.

“Baseball around here just isn’t a huge thing,” said McClure. “Yeah, the Indians are doing great, but when you look around with the young kids, I think it’s lacking. The weather in the spring stinks, and that doesn’t help. And only a handful of kids in this area are getting (Division I) looks by colleges, I’d like to help get it going. It would be great to get these kids going earlier. Will it happen? I don’t know? But we’re trying to help as much as we can.”

Price for the eight sessions at Stars Sports Performance is $199. For more information, call 440-2530250.