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 (MLB). A right-handed starter, Schmidt was selected by the Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft out of the University of South Carolina. After recovering from Tommy John surgery as a college junior, he worked his way through the Yankees’ minor league system before reaching the majors in 2020.
Through the 2025 season, Schmidt has compiled a 23–24 win–loss record with a 3.82 earned run average and 384 strikeouts in his MLB career. He has spent his entire professional career with the Yankees organization, developing into a reliable rotation piece before injuries interrupted his progress.
Early Life and Background
Schmidt attended Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia, where he played high school baseball but was not selected in the MLB draft out of high school. Following his prep career, he committed to play college baseball at the University of South Carolina for the Gamecocks, joining one of the top programs in the Southeastern Conference.
His father, Dwight Schmidt, is a pilot and a 30-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Dwight has piloted the Yankees team plane on several occasions during Clarke’s tenure with the team, and on May 22, 2025, Dwight threw the ceremonial first pitch to his son before a home game against the Texas Rangers.
His brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016. Clate was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015, recovered from the illness, and went on to become a professional player, last appearing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2019.
Path to Baseball
At the University of South Carolina, Schmidt quickly became a featured arm in the Gamecocks’ rotation. As a freshman, he pitched in 18 games and made 10 starts, going 2–2 with a 4.81 earned run average and 55 strikeouts. His performance in that first season signaled the type of workload the staff was willing to give him.
Schmidt became South Carolina’s ace as a sophomore in 2016, pitching in 18 games with 17 starts and going 9–5 with a 3.40 ERA and 129 strikeouts. He remained the team’s number-one starter in his junior year in 2017, cementing his status as one of the top college pitchers in the country.
In April 2017, Schmidt underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his junior season early. Despite the injury, the New York Yankees selected him in the first round, with the 16th overall pick, of the 2017 MLB draft. On June 24, 2017, the Yankees signed Schmidt to a $2,184,300 signing bonus, beginning his path back to the mound.
Clarke Schmidt Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Schmidt did not appear in any games in 2017 after signing due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He made his professional debut in 2018, splitting time between the GCL Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Staten Island Yankees of the Low-A New York-Penn League. Across both clubs, he went 0–3 with a 3.09 ERA in 23+1⁄3 innings pitched, working his way back to competitive form.
He began the 2019 season with the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A Florida State League. In August 2019, the Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League, continuing his steady climb through the organization’s pitching ranks.
Major League Debut and Development (2020–2021)
The Yankees promoted Schmidt to the major leagues on September 4, 2020. He made his major league debut that same day as a relief pitcher, becoming one of the youngest arms to debut in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the start of spring training for the 2021 season, Schmidt was shut down due to a common extensor strain in his right elbow, with an MRI showing no ligament damage. On March 27, 2021, he was placed on the 60-day injured list, and on August 12, he was activated and optioned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as he continued to build up his arm strength.
Yankees Rotation Breakthrough (2022)
Schmidt made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster for the 2022 season, marking his first full year in the major leagues. He earned his first major league win on April 19, a memorable milestone after years of injury setbacks. On July 24, Schmidt recorded his first career save after tossing three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles, showing he could handle high-leverage relief work as well as starting duties.
Across the 2022 season, he made 14 starts for New York, compiling a 4–4 record and a 3.32 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 78+2⁄3 innings pitched. His performance established him as a dependable arm in the Yankees’ pitching staff heading into the next season.
Clarke Schmidt Career Highlights
Schmidt’s major league career has been highlighted by perseverance through injury, his debut in 2020, and his first full rotation season in 2022. Through the 2025 season, he has appeared for the Yankees with a 23–24 record, a 3.82 earned run average, and 384 strikeouts.
Yankees Highlights
Schmidt’s first major league win came on April 19, 2022, a defining moment in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Later that year, he picked up his first career save against the Baltimore Orioles on July 24, showing his versatility as both a starter and a reliever. He has remained with the Yankees organization since being drafted in 2017, making him a homegrown member of the franchise’s pitching pipeline.
Other Performances
Schmidt’s minor league stops included the GCL Yankees, Staten Island Yankees, Tampa Tarpons, Trenton Thunder, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he steadily rebuilt his arm after surgery. His first pro season in 2018 ended with a 3.09 ERA across two rookie-level affiliates, while his 2019 promotion to Double-A Trenton showed he was back on a normal development track.
Clarke Schmidt Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Schmidt comes from a close-knit family with a strong military and athletic background. His father, Dwight Schmidt, is a pilot and a 30-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, while his brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016 before becoming a professional pitcher.
Personal Life
Clate Schmidt’s battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015 and his recovery became an important part of the Schmidt family’s story, with Clarke often citing his brother’s resilience as motivation. Dwight Schmidt’s involvement with the Yankees organization, including piloting the team plane and throwing a ceremonial first pitch to Clarke on May 22, 2025, has also been a memorable chapter in the family’s connection to the game.
2025 Season Performance
Schmidt opened the 2025 season continuing his role in the Yankees’ pitching staff, building on the rotation experience he gained in 2022. On July 10, 2025, the Yankees announced that Schmidt would undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time of his career, ending his 2025 season. The injury was a major setback for a pitcher who had finally established himself as a consistent contributor at the major league level.
Schmidt began the 2026 season on the 60-day injured list, still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he had the previous year. His recovery timeline placed him among the Yankees’ longer-term injury cases, with the organization taking a cautious approach to his return.
Looking ahead, Schmidt’s outlook is centered on completing his rehabilitation and returning to the Yankees’ rotation when healthy. With a fully verified career line of 23–24, a 3.82 ERA, and 384 strikeouts through 2025, he remains a notable homegrown arm for New York as he works his way back from his second Tommy John procedure.
