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David Fleming

March 29, 1999

Rookie righthander Matt Clement has already been paid the ultimate compliment: After he went 2-0 with 13 strikeouts in 13 innings in his first stint in the majors last September, scouts were comparing the sinking movement of the 24-year-old's fastball to that of San Diego ace Kevin Brown. Even Brown himself said of the 1993 third-round draft pick, "He has the makings." Clement, a Pittsburgh native who wears an IRON CITY beer T-shirt under his jersey for good luck, was the organization's minor league pitcher of the year in '97 and, with the off-season departure of Brown and righthander Joey Hamilton, could start the season as high as third in the Padres' rotation.