Clarke Schmidt
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Clarke Schmidt
|image = Clarke Schmidt - Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders (cropped).jpg
|caption = Schmidt with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2022
|team = New York Yankees
|number = 36
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|20}}
|birth_place = Acworth, Georgia, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 4
|debutyear = 2020
|debutteam = New York Yankees
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = June 16, 2025
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 22–23
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 3.90
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 341
|teams =
- New York Yankees ({{mlby|2020}}–present)
}}
Clarke Douglas Schmidt (born February 20, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Schmidt played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and was selected by the Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020.
Amateur career
Schmidt attended Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia.{{Cite news |last=Iacobelli |first=Pete |date=April 28, 2016 |title=With Schmidt as its ace, South Carolina vaults back atop SEC |url=http://www.mdjonline.com/sports/with-schmidt-as-its-ace-south-carolina-vaults-back-atop/article_e7ec4fa4-0db5-11e6-82a0-2770d91c6578.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Marietta Daily Journal |accessdate=August 4, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2016/04/22/clarke-schmidt-top-his-game/83352028/ |title=Clarke Schmidt is on top of his game |publisher=Greenvilleonline.com |access-date=September 5, 2020}} He became South Carolina's ace as a sophomore in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/stories/|title=College Baseball Rankings, Scouting Reports And Analysis|website=www.baseballamerica.com}} He pitched in 18 games with 17 starts and went 9–5 with a 3.40 ERA and 129 strikeouts.[http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-baseball/article131039409.html USC P Clarke Schmidt more prepared for heavy workload in 2017]{{cite web|last=Jones |first=Sam |url=http://www.mdjonline.com/sports/schmidt-on-preseason-golden-spikes-watch-list/article_42cc71f8-f715-11e6-9c3e-bf1c52a47bd7.html |title=Schmidt on preseason Golden Spikes watch list |publisher=Mdjonline.com |date=February 19, 2017 |access-date=September 5, 2020}} Schmidt remained the team's number one starter his junior year in 2017.{{cite web|last=Caraviello |first=David |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/sports/clarke-schmidt-to-pitch-season-opener-for-fifth-ranked-gamecocks/article_d9369f6a-ecbb-11e6-ad56-032176bd5579.html |title=Clarke Schmidt to pitch season opener for fifth-ranked Gamecocks |publisher=Postandcourier.com |date=February 6, 2017 |access-date=September 5, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Munz |first=Jason |url=http://sports.usatoday.com/2017/02/06/stronger-mentally-and-physically-uscs-schmidt-welcomes-no-1-status/ |title=Stronger mentally and physically, USC's Schmidt welcomes No. 1 status |publisher=Sports.usatoday.com |date=August 29, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2020}} He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2017.[http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-baseball/article146585039.html Injury sidelines Gamecocks ace Clarke Schmidt for season]
Professional career
File:Clarke Schmidt with the New York Yankees in 2020 spring training camp.jpg
The New York Yankees selected Schmidt in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, of the 2017 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/235987310/yankees-draft-clarke-schmidt-in-first-round/?topicId=27118390|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616124751/http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/235987310/yankees-draft-clarke-schmidt-in-first-round/?topicId=27118390|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2017|title=Yankees draft Clarke Schmidt in first round|website=New York Yankees|access-date=August 1, 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2017/09/yankees_top_pick_clarke_schmidts_rehab_going_great.html|title=How is rehab going for Yankees top pick Clarke Schmidt?|date=September 18, 2017|publisher=NJ.com|access-date=February 1, 2018}} 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 {{frac|23|1|3}} innings pitched between the two teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=657376#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Clarke Schmidt Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=October 20, 2018}}
Schmidt began 2019 with the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A Florida State League.{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Dan |url=https://nypost.com/2019/04/08/yankees-pitching-prospect-clarke-schmidt-starts-hype-with-just-one-start/ |title=Yankees prospect Clarke Schmidt stars in start after Tommy John |publisher=Nypost.com |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2020}} In August, the Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League.{{cite web|url=https://www.trentonian.com/sports/yankees-promote-no-5-prospect-clarke-schmidt-to-trenton/article_302f8b32-bfa6-11e9-b1d6-63e47f85ec2e.html |title=Yankees promote No. 5 prospect Clarke Schmidt to Trenton | Sports |publisher=trentonian.com |date=August 15, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2020}}
The Yankees promoted Schmidt to the major leagues on September 4, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/09/yankees-bring-clarke-schmidt-to-baltimore-what-it-means.html|title=Yankees call up Clarke Schmidt | What it means (UPDATED)|first=Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for|last=NJ.com|date=September 4, 2020|website=nj}} He made his major league debut that day as a relief pitcher.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/09/yankees-aaron-boone-explains-putting-clarke-schmidt-in-tough-spot-in-debut.html|title=Yankees' Aaron Boone explains putting Clarke Schmidt in tough spot in debut|first=Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for|last=NJ.com|date=September 5, 2020|website=nj}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/yankees-shut-down-clarke-schmidt-for-3-4-weeks.html|title=Yankees Shut Down Clarke Schmidt "For a Few Weeks"}} On March 27, 2021, Schmidt was placed on the 60-day injured list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/jay-bruce-to-make-yankees-opening-day-roster.html|title = Jay Bruce to Make Yankees' Opening Day Roster}} On August 12, Schmidt was activated off of the injured list and optioned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-clarke-schmidt-activated-optioned-to-triple-a/|title=Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Activated, optioned to Triple-A}}
Schmidt made the Yankees Opening Day roster for the 2022 season. He earned his first major league win on April 19.{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/clarke-schmidt-earns-first-career-win-for-yankees | title=Schmidt picks up Cole, soaks in 'special' day | website=MLB.com }} On July 24, Schmidt recorded his first career save after tossing three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles.{{Cite web|title=Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt: Three-inning save|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-clarke-schmidt-three-inning-save/amp/|access-date=May 24, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}
Personal life
His brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016.[http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/article37622049.html Clate and Clarke Schmidt: Brothers and best friends]{{cite web|url=http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2015/02/26/south-carolina-gamecocks-baseball-clarke-schmidt/24076197/ |title=Schmidt brothers meet during rivalry weekend |publisher=Greenvilleonline.com |access-date=September 5, 2020}} Clate was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015,{{Cite web |last=Boorstein |first=Eli |date=December 24, 2024 |title=Former Allatoona baseball star Schmidt diagnosed with cancer |url=https://www.mdjonline.com/sports/former-allatoona-baseball-star-schmidt-diagnosed-with-cancer/article_a950321d-1aa8-5275-8a40-e3698efc43f4.html |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Marietta Daily Journal}}{{cite web|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/sports/usc-s-schmidt-says-brother-s-battle-with-cancer-put/article_84abfac2-aab7-53b0-9475-68f1f6c19ff2.html|title=USC's Schmidt says brother's battle with cancer put baseball in its place|first=David|last=Caraviello|work=The Post and Courier|access-date=September 5, 2020}} but recovered, and became a professional player, last playing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2019.{{cite web | last=Dean | first=Zach | title=Tortugas pitcher Clate Schmidt thriving 4 years after cancer diagnosis | website=Daytona Beach News-Journal | date=June 4, 2019 | url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/mlb/2019/06/04/tortugas-pitcher-clate-schmidt-thriving-4-years-after-cancer-diagnosis/4980353007/ | access-date=August 22, 2024}}
His father, Dwight Schmidt, is a pilot and a 30 year veteran of the US Marine Corps. Dwight has piloted the Yankees team plane on several occasions https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/clarke-schmidt-dad-flies-yankees-to-la-world-series during Clarke's tenure with the team and, on May 22nd 2025, Dwight threw the ceremonial first pitch to his son before a home game against the Texas Rangers.https://www.mlb.com/news/clarke-schmidt-s-dad-throws-out-ceremonial-first-pitch
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=657376|espn=41085|br=s/schmicl01|fangraphs=19899|brm=schmid001cla|retro=S/Pschmc002}}
- [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/clarke_schmidt_939397.html South Carolina Gamecocks bio]
{{New York Yankees roster navbox}}
{{2017 MLB Draft}}
{{New York Yankees first-round draft picks}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Clarke}}
Category:Baseball players from Cobb County, Georgia
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:New York Yankees players
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks baseball players
Category:Gulf Coast Yankees players
Category:Somerset Patriots players
Category:Staten Island Yankees players
Category:Tampa Tarpons players
Category:Trenton Thunder players