Clarke Schmidt Bio
Clarke Douglas Schmidt (born February 20, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Schmidt played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 2020 and has served in both starting and relief roles for the Yankees through the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Clarke Schmidt grew up in Acworth, Georgia, and attended Allatoona High School, where he developed as a prospect but was not selected in the MLB draft out of high school. He enrolled at the University of South Carolina and joined the South Carolina Gamecocks baseball program, where he progressed into the team’s lead starter by his sophomore season. His collegiate development established him as a first-round prospect ahead of the 2017 draft.
At South Carolina Schmidt emerged as a power-armed starter with swing-and-miss ability, registering key strikeout totals that drew scouting attention. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2017 during his junior year, which delayed the start of his professional on-field career after the draft and required a period of rehabilitation before his pro debut.
Path to Baseball
Schmidt’s path from high school prospect to major leaguer followed a traditional collegiate development route. After not being drafted from Allatoona High School, he used his time at the University of South Carolina to refine his repertoire and command, earning a reputation as the Gamecocks’ ace in his sophomore and junior seasons.
Selected by the New York Yankees with the 16th overall pick in 2017, Schmidt signed for a reported $2,184,300 signing bonus. The franchise invested in his recovery after surgery and assigned him to their minor-league system when he was ready to return to game action in 2018, beginning his climb through the Yankees’ developmental ladder.
Clarke Schmidt Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Clarke Schmidt made his professional debut in 2018 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He spent time with the Gulf Coast League Yankees and the Staten Island Yankees that year, posting a 3.09 earned run average across his limited innings as he worked back to full strength.
In 2019 Schmidt opened with the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A Florida State League and earned a promotion to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League in August. That season served as his most important developmental stretch, allowing the Yankees to evaluate his progress against more advanced competition.
Minor League Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Across 2018 and 2019 Schmidt built innings and tuned his pitch mix while moving steadily upward through the Yankees’ system. His strikeout ability and fastball command at High-A and Double-A convinced the organization to continue his development as a future major-league option, and he arrived on the 40-man radar as he approached the big-league club.
By the end of the 2019 season Schmidt had established himself as a top pitching prospect within the Yankees’ system based on his advanced raw stuff and projection as either a multi-inning reliever or a back-end starter at the major-league level.
Major League Breakthrough (2020–2025)
The New York Yankees promoted Clarke Schmidt to the major leagues on September 4, 2020, and he made his big-league debut that day as a relief pitcher. His role with the club has included both spot starts and multi-inning relief appearances as the team has managed his workload and leveraged his ability to miss bats.
Schmidt made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in 2022 and recorded his first major-league win on April 19, 2022. On July 24, 2022, he recorded his first career save by tossing three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Over the 2022 season he made 14 starts and compiled a 4–4 record with a 3.32 ERA and 73 strikeouts across 78 and two-thirds innings.
New York Yankees Era (2020–Present)
Since his promotion, Schmidt’s tenure with the New York Yankees has been shaped by competition for rotation and bullpen roles and by periodic injury management. He has been used in multi-inning relief and as a spot starter while the organization assessed his long-term role on the staff.
Schmidt remained part of the Yankees’ pitching plans through the 2025 season; his major-league totals through 2025 include a 23–24 win–loss record, a 3.82 earned run average, and 384 strikeouts. On July 10, 2025, the Yankees announced Schmidt would undergo a second Tommy John surgery, which ended his 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Schmidt’s strengths center on his fastball velocity and strikeout capability, supported by a developing secondary pitch mix. He has shown the ability to work multiple innings and to generate swings and misses, traits that make him valuable in both starting and long-relief assignments. His pitchability and poise have been key assets as the Yankees have managed his workload around injury history.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Schmidt’s career include his selection as the 16th overall pick in the 2017 draft, his major-league debut in September 2020, his first major-league win in April 2022, and his first career save in July 2022. The second Tommy John surgery in July 2025 marked a significant medical setback and the end of his 2025 campaign.
Clarke Schmidt Career Wins
Across his major-league service through the 2025 season, Schmidt has compiled 23 official major-league victories and 384 strikeouts with a 3.82 earned run average. His professional record reflects a mix of starting assignments and relief outings as the Yankees have integrated him into their pitching staff.
Major League Highlights
Schmidt’s first major-league win on April 19, 2022, stands as a defining personal milestone and his July 24, 2022 three-inning save is notable for demonstrating his durability and effectiveness in extended relief. The 2022 season remains a high-water mark for routine workload and impactful innings at the major-league level.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In the minor leagues Schmidt notched promotions through High-A and Double-A in 2019, which positioned him for a major-league call-up in 2020. His early professional innings in 2018 and performance in 2019 provided the foundation for the Yankees’ decision to advance him to the big-league roster.
Clarke Schmidt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Clarke Schmidt’s family includes athletic ties: his brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson University and later played professionally in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Their father, Dwight Schmidt, is a pilot and a 30-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Personal Life
Dwight Schmidt has been publicly involved in Clarke’s career milestones; he piloted the Yankees’ team plane on several occasions during Clarke’s tenure and threw the ceremonial first pitch to his son before a home game on May 22, 2025. Other personal details beyond immediate family have not been publicly detailed in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Clarke Schmidt was shaped by early activity with the Yankees and a midseason medical decision that ended his year. On July 10, 2025, the team announced he would undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career, effectively concluding his contributions for that season and setting a rehabilitation timeline into subsequent years.
Before the surgery announcement Schmidt provided value in multiple roles when available, and his 2025 status reflected the club’s long-term planning around his recovery and future role. The organization listed him among injured players undergoing rehabilitation as it prepared roster plans following his surgery.