Clarke Schmidt

Clarke Schmidt
Schmidt with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022
New York Yankees – No. 36
Pitcher
Born: (1996-02-20) February 20, 1996 (age 28)
Acworth, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 2020, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record19–20
Earned run average3.95
Strikeouts311
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Clarke Douglas Schmidt (born February 20, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Yankees selected Schmidt in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Amateur career

Schmidt attended Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia.[1] He was not drafted out of high school and played college baseball at the University of South Carolina for the Gamecocks.

As a freshman, Schmidt pitched in 18 games and made 10 starts, pitching to a 2–2 win–loss record with a 4.81 earned run average (ERA) and 55 strikeouts.[2] He became South Carolina's ace as a sophomore in 2016.[3] He pitched in 18 games with 17 starts and went 9–5 with a 3.40 ERA and 129 strikeouts.[4][5] Schmidt remained the team's number one starter his junior year in 2017.[6][7] He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2017.[8]

Professional career

Schmidt with the Yankees during the 2020 spring training

The New York Yankees selected Schmidt in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, of the 2017 MLB draft.[9] On June 24, 2017, the Yankees signed Schmidt for a $2,184,300 signing bonus. He did not see any action in 2017 after signing due to the surgery.[10] He made his professional debut in 2018 and spent time with the GCL Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Staten Island Yankees of the Low-A New York-Penn League, going 0–3 with a 3.09 ERA in 23+1⁄3 innings pitched between the two teams.[11]

Schmidt began 2019 with the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A Florida State League.[12] In August, the Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League.[13]

The Yankees promoted Schmidt to the major leagues on September 4, 2020.[14] He made his major league debut that day as a relief pitcher.[15]

In the beginning of spring training for the 2021 season, Schmidt was shut down due to a common extensor strain in his right elbow and no ligament damage was shown in an MRI.[16] On March 27, 2021, Schmidt was placed on the 60-day injured list.[17] On August 12, Schmidt was activated off of the injured list and optioned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[18]

Schmidt made the Yankees Opening Day roster for the 2022 season. He earned his first major league win on April 19.[19] On July 24, Schmidt recorded his first career save after tossing three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles.[20]

Personal life

His brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016.[21][22] Clate was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015,[23][24] but recovered, and became a professional player, last playing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2019.[25]

References

  1. ^ Iacobelli, Pete (April 28, 2016). "With Schmidt as its ace, South Carolina vaults back atop SEC". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Clarke Schmidt is on top of his game". Greenvilleonline.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "College Baseball Rankings, Scouting Reports And Analysis". www.baseballamerica.com.
  4. ^ USC P Clarke Schmidt more prepared for heavy workload in 2017
  5. ^ Jones, Sam (February 19, 2017). "Schmidt on preseason Golden Spikes watch list". Mdjonline.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Caraviello, David (February 6, 2017). "Clarke Schmidt to pitch season opener for fifth-ranked Gamecocks". Postandcourier.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. ^ Munz, Jason (August 29, 2019). "Stronger mentally and physically, USC's Schmidt welcomes No. 1 status". Sports.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Injury sidelines Gamecocks ace Clarke Schmidt for season
  9. ^ "Yankees draft Clarke Schmidt in first round". New York Yankees. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  10. ^ "How is rehab going for Yankees top pick Clarke Schmidt?". NJ.com. September 18, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  11. ^ "Clarke Schmidt Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  12. ^ Martin, Dan (April 8, 2019). "Yankees prospect Clarke Schmidt stars in start after Tommy John". Nypost.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  13. ^ "Yankees promote No. 5 prospect Clarke Schmidt to Trenton | Sports". trentonian.com. August 15, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. ^ NJ.com, Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for (September 4, 2020). "Yankees call up Clarke Schmidt | What it means (UPDATED)". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ NJ.com, Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for (September 5, 2020). "Yankees' Aaron Boone explains putting Clarke Schmidt in tough spot in debut". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Yankees Shut Down Clarke Schmidt "For a Few Weeks"".
  17. ^ "Jay Bruce to Make Yankees' Opening Day Roster".
  18. ^ "Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Activated, optioned to Triple-A".
  19. ^ "Schmidt picks up Cole, soaks in 'special' day". MLB.com.
  20. ^ "Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Three-inning save". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  21. ^ Clate and Clarke Schmidt: Brothers and best friends
  22. ^ "Schmidt brothers meet during rivalry weekend". Greenvilleonline.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  23. ^ Boorstein, Eli. "Former Allatoona baseball star Schmidt diagnosed with cancer". mdjonline.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  24. ^ Caraviello, David. "USC's Schmidt says brother's battle with cancer put baseball in its place". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  25. ^ Dean, Zach (June 4, 2019). "Tortugas pitcher Clate Schmidt thriving 4 years after cancer diagnosis". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2024.