Clarke Schmidt

Clarke Schmidt's Biography

Born on February 20, 1996, Clarke Douglas Schmidt is a renowned professional baseball player who has been making significant contributions to Major League Baseball (MLB) as a determined pitcher for the New York Yankees. Joining the baseball world in a paramount way, Schmidt was chosen by the Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, during the 2017 MLB draft. Carving his name in the timeline of baseball history, he debuted in the Major Leagues in 2020.

Schmidt’s early starting phase of life unfolds in Acworth, Georgia, where he completed his high school education at Allatoona. Interestingly, he was not drafted out of high school, which sparked his journey into college baseball at the University of South Carolina. Playing proudly for the Gamecocks, he ascended from a rookie role to being a dominant ace in the team.

In his freshman year, Schmidt got the chance to pitch in 18 games, and he made the most of this opportunity with a commendable performance consisting of 10 starts, a 2-2 win-loss record, and a 4.81 earned run average (ERA). Not to mention, he ended the year with an impressive score of 55 strikeouts.

Earning his prominence in the game by sophomore year in 2016, Schmidt became South Carolina’s ace. This year marked his significant growth, where he pitched in 18 games with 17 starts, and attained a 9-5 record with a 3.40 ERA, accompanied by an impressive 129 strikeouts. His junior year in 2017 continued to recognize him as the team’s number one starter.

Despite undergoing a critical Tommy John surgery in April 2017, Schmidt’s career took a favorable turn when the New York Yankees chose him on June 24, 2017, in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. Although he saw no immediate action after the signing due to his surgery, his debut in 2018 showcased his relentless spirit as he went 0–3 with a 3.09 ERA pitching for both the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Low-A New York-Penn League.

In 2019, Schmidt started strong with the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A Florida State League. However, his hard work and passion soon paid off when the Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League in August.

Marking a significant milestone in his career, Schmidt got the promotion to the major leagues on September 4, 2020, and debuted as a relief pitcher that same day. However, his journey faced a setback in 2021 due to a common extensor strain in his right elbow, sidelining him during the spring training of the season.

Though no ligament damage was shown in an MRI, Schmidt was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 27, 2021. After slowly recovering from the injury, he was added to the roster of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on August 12, upon his activation.

Looking ahead, 2022 proved to be a memorable year for Schmidt as he made it to the Yankees Opening Day roster and later celebrated his first major league victory on April 19. Adding another feather to his cap, he recorded his first career save by delivering three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles on July 24.

Beyond his remarkable career, Clarke’s life has an influential presence of his brother, Clate Schmidt, who also shares a deep bond with baseball. Clate played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016 and underwent a tough phase when diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015. Mirroring his brother’s fighting spirit, Clate recovered and continued his professional journey, last playing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2019.

Today, Clarke Douglas Schmidt stands tall as an influential figure in American professional baseball, highlighting passion, persistence, and resilience. His story continues to inspire many upcoming players who dream of making their mark in the world of baseball.