 Clay's lack of success at the major league level is often cited as the catalyst for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's desire to build his team through free agency and trades rather than relying upon his own farm system.Clay was drafted in the second round of the draft upon graduation from E. C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, Virginia.He put up respectable numbers in his first five seasons in the Yankees' farm system, going 46-40 with a 3.64 ERA, but was wild.