Although he himself had been a successful major-league pitcher, Tom Candiotti never steered sons Casey and Clark into baseball. They played multiple sports growing up.
But Tom would take his boys to work whenever possible. By this point, he was a broadcaster; he’s about to start his 19th season in the Diamondbacks’ radio booth.
Casey and Clark would watch the big-league players prepare; they’d watch the best pitchers in the world throw their bullpens. Clark, in particular, soaked it all up.
“I could tell that he was ticking upstairs,” Tom Candiotti said. “What they were doing, what were their routines. He could see the difference up close.
“That guy learned so quickly about stuff. He was like a sponge.”
Both Candiotti kids became pitchers. Clark is about to begin his final season of college — and his first at Arizona. He’s slated to start the Wildcats’ second game of the season Saturday. Left-hander Jackson Kent is getting the ball for opening night Friday against No. 23 Northeastern.
Right-hander Clark Candiotti, a transfer from Wichita State, is slated to start Arizona's second game on Saturday vs. Northeastern after a strong offseason that included two stellar preseason scrimmages.
When you watch Clark Candiotti pitch, it’s easy to see why Arizona wanted him out of the transfer portal. His fastball consistently reaches the mid-90s, and he has multiple whiff-inducing breaking pitches. In two recent intrasquad scrimmages, Candiotti struck out 23 batters in 10⅔ innings.
Candiotti also has knowledge about pitching that only the son of a big-league hurler could possess.
Tom and Clark talk after his outings, many of which Tom can only monitor on an iPad during D-backs games. Tom will jot down notes.
“Every pitcher has two or three ... big moments where a game can go one way or the other,” Tom Candiotti said in a phone interview with the Star this week. “I always try to circle those moments. ‘What were you thinking right there?’
“He knows how to throw a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. He even knows how to throw a knuckleball. ... Mentally is where I think he appreciates more of it. I love talking about those moments. Those are the moments that win or lose ballgames.”
Mainly because of unforeseen circumstances, Arizona right-hander Clark Candiotti is playing for his fifth team in five years. 'Unexpected and a little crazy,' Candiotti said of his journey.
Clark Candiotti was a big-time winner the past two seasons, posting a 14-5 record at Grayson College (Denison, Texas) and Wichita State. But before last season began, Wichita State parted ways with Eric Wedge. It was the second time in his college career that Candiotti’s head coach had been let go.
“Look, it’s not your fault,” his father told him. “You were all-conference first team.”
Clark Candiotti earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors after going 7-4 for the Shockers with a 4.87 ERA (which would have been the best among UA starters) and 82 strikeouts in 77⅔ innings. But with Wichita State changing coaches and Candiotti having one more year of eligibility, he entered the portal.
Arizona needed pitching, and its new pitching coaches were on the lookout for live arms.
“When Kevin Vance and John DeRouin break down video, it’s either a yes or no. They really liked what they saw,” UA coach Chip Hale said. “So we went after him. Tom and Clark came down, and we had a great visit. We were lucky enough to get him.”
Clark Candiotti, shown pitching for Wichita State last March, transferred to Arizona in the offseason. He has positioned himself as the Wildcats' No. 2 starter entering the 2024 season.
Tom Candiotti had a prior relationship with Hale. They were teammates with the L.A. Dodgers in 1997, and Hale was the Diamondbacks’ manager from 2015-16.
“I know what he’s about. I know his mentality, the way he coaches,” Tom Candiotti said. “(Clark) likes to be pushed. He’s used to that — from me, probably.”
Arizona is Clark Candiotti’s fifth school in five years. He started at Saint Mary’s, where his dad played; then came a year at Vernon (Texas) College, where the coach was fired; then Grayson; then Wichita State.
“Unexpected and a little crazy,” Clark Candiotti said of his nomadic college career. “Fifth school in five years. I didn’t think it would happen. But it happened for the best reasons. And I couldn’t be more blessed to experience everything.”
Tom Candiotti always taught his sons to make the most of disappointing situations; they arise often in baseball, even for the best players.
Casey, who’s two years older than Clark, also began his college career at Saint Mary’s. He concluded it last year at Holy Names University, a Division II school in Oakland, California. Casey had seven saves last season. Like his dad, Casey had the knuckleball in his arsenal. That rarely used pitch is not part of Clark’s repertoire.
“Clark can throw one too. He just thinks it’s funny,” Tom Candiotti said. “I probably wouldn’t have either if I could throw 96.”
Clark Candiotti has the size MLB clubs crave (6-4, 237), good enough velocity and an array of off-speed pitches. If he has the season Arizona’s coaches believe he’s capable of having, he could get drafted this summer — something not even his dad experienced.
“I think you’re seeing more of a complete pitcher, along with a program at U of A that has accelerated him. He’s ready to come into his own,” Tom Candiotti said. “Not that he was bad last year. He looks like he’s on a different level right now.
“It’s not easy when you keep changing teams and teammates. I couldn’t be more proud of his journey up to this point.”
Inside pitch
Junior right-hander Anthony “Tonko” Susac is slated to start Game 3 for Arizona on Sunday. Northeastern’s probable starters are all righties, which could limit the Wildcats’ platoon possibilities.
Arizona lists six players in its “possible lineup” for opening night: catcher Blake McDonald, first baseman Tommy Splaine, second baseman Garen Caulfield, shortstop Mason White, left fielder Brendan Summerhill and right fielder Emilio Corona. Hale plans to try several different combinations early in the season.
Northeastern junior outfielder Mike Sirota is Baseball America’s No. 5 college prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft. Sirota batted .344 last season with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 73 runs scored in 215 at-bats.
The UA is opening a new team store at Hi Corbett Field. It features a mural by local artist Rock Martinez, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday.
The Wildcats revealed new sky-blue uniforms Thursday featuring “Arizona” in red across the chest, along with red and navy piping around the neck, at the end of the sleeves and down the pant legs. The uniforms are being paired with red hats and belts.
