Former Pirates Prospect Danny Clyburn Shot and Killed in South Carolina

The Pirates selected Clyburn, a right-handed outfielder, with the 47th overall pick in the 1992 draft, a pick the team had received as compensation from the Mets in exchange for the loss of Bobby Bonilla as a free agent. They traded him to the Reds on October 13, 1994, in exchange for Jacob Brumfield. The cousin of major league pitcher Pep Harris, Clyburn was an International League All-Star in 1997, and he spent parts of three seasons in the major leagues with the Orioles and Devil Rays. He played his last professional season in 2004, as a member of the Atlantic League's Newark Bears. At the time of Clyburn's death, he was only 37 years old.

4 months ago Vlad 11 comments 0 recs |

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That's awful

Prayers and thoughts go out to his family. Lancaster is a really small town, this isn’t the kind of thing that typically happens there. Makes me wonder a bit about the circumstances. Either way, a horrible incident and life cut way too short.

The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass

by glass0941 on Feb 7, 2012 1:38 PM EST reply actions

The shooting took place at around 2 a.m., and according to this piece, the site of the shooting was the front yard of Clyburn’s home. Witnesses said that he’d been involved in an argument with the shooter at the time it happened.

by Vlad on Feb 7, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

I live in Lancaster

This was the lead article in the Lancaster News. Very strange to see Lancaster and the Bucs related in any way, but especially this way.

by BobDH on Feb 8, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

crazy...

and very very unfortunate

by BurgherKing on Feb 7, 2012 5:09 PM EST reply actions

If I remember correctly

Clyburn was part of a future four of prospects that included

Clyburn, Trey Beamen, Jason Kendall, and Al Martin

I may be mistaken about a few in that group though – pls correct me if anyone out there remembers

by bmcferren on Feb 7, 2012 10:09 PM EST reply actions

fab four is what they called them

Clyburn, Kendall, Beamon, and Shon Walker were the Fab Four (around the time of Michigan’s Fab Five) . . . I thought Beamon might be like Tony Gwynn at one time . . . if Kendall hadn’t broken his ankle in mid-season of ‘99 when we went 79-83, then we wouldn’t have this awful streak (we’d have one, it just wouldn’t be quite so long)

the next pick in that draft was a pitcher named Backlund (I think) and he looked promising at one time and I thought should have made a Fab Five . . . this was also around the time we had a prospect named Dave Doorneweerd (sp?) I had high hopes for (if only to see that name on the back of a major league jersey)

too bad about Mr. Clyburn of course

by skvolcanoes on Feb 7, 2012 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Beamon might be like Tony Gwynn at one time . . .

He did have a nice long career in indy ball – his last pro season was 2006, with the Alexandria Aces of the UNLB.

by Vlad on Feb 8, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Shon Walker

Anybody remember what happened with him? In retrospect, his minor league line is very odd. He hit .303/.394/.511 in 1996 as a 22-year-old in A+, which is a perfectly acceptable performance for someone of that age at that level, and they made him repeat the level the next year. In his second go-round at that level in 1997, he hit .261/.408/.498, and it still didn’t get him a promotion to AA. He hit .302/.385/.592 across three low levels of the minors in 1998, and then dropped out of pro ball for good.

Very puzzling. I know Bonifay liked to slow-track guys, but that’s just ridiculous.

by Vlad on Feb 8, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

Really weird. Presumably there was an injury that last year that caused the rookie ball and low A stints, but he raked, so…. GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS!!

by tobynotjason on Feb 9, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions