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). He played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks before being selected by the Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft. Schmidt made his MLB debut in 2020 and has worked primarily as a starting pitcher in the Yankees organization.
Early Life and Background
Schmidt attended Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia, where he developed as a pitching prospect. He was not drafted out of high school, which led him to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level. His path through the amateur ranks reflected a steady build of experience rather than an immediate leap to professional baseball.
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 during Clarke’s tenure with the team. On May 22, 2025, Dwight threw the ceremonial first pitch to his son before a home game against the Texas Rangers, a memorable family moment at Yankee Stadium.
Path to Baseball
Schmidt pitched in 18 games and made 10 starts as a freshman at the University of South Carolina, posting a 2–2 win–loss record with a 4.81 earned run average and 55 strikeouts. He 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.
Schmidt remained the Gamecocks’ number one starter during his junior year in 2017. His college trajectory was interrupted in April 2017 when he underwent Tommy John surgery, a procedure that repairs the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The injury cut short his junior season but did not diminish his draft stock, as the Yankees selected him 16th overall later that summer.
Clarke Schmidt Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
On June 24, 2017, the Yankees signed Schmidt to a $2,184,300 signing bonus. He did not appear in any games in 2017 after signing because he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Schmidt 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.
Schmidt began 2019 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, marking his climb to the upper levels of the minor leagues.
Major League Debut and Development (2020–2021)
The Yankees promoted Schmidt to the major leagues on September 4, 2020. He made his MLB debut that same day as a relief pitcher, becoming one of the prospects who reached the big leagues during the shortened 2020 season. His first taste of the majors came in a relief role rather than a starting assignment.
Early in spring training for the 2021 season, Schmidt was shut down due to a common extensor strain in his right elbow, with no ligament damage shown on an MRI. On March 27, 2021, the Yankees placed him on the 60-day injured list. He was activated on August 12, 2021, and optioned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to continue building innings and refining his craft.
New York Yankees Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Schmidt made the Yankees Opening Day roster for the 2022 season, signaling that the organization viewed him as a full-time big league contributor. He earned his first major league win on April 19, 2022, a milestone that confirmed his readiness as a major league pitcher. On July 24, 2022, Schmidt recorded his first career save after tossing three scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles, showcasing his ability to handle high-leverage work out of the bullpen.
During the 2022 season, Schmidt 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. Those numbers established him as a reliable rotation piece heading into subsequent seasons.
New York Yankees Era (2025–Present)
Schmidt continued his role with the Yankees into 2025 as a member of the starting rotation. His season, however, was cut short on July 10, 2025, when the Yankees announced that he would undergo a second Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 campaign. The procedure marked a significant setback for both Schmidt and the Yankees rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Schmidt’s career has included several signature moments, from his first-round selection in the 2017 MLB draft to his major league debut in 2020 and his first MLB win in 2022. The ceremonial first pitch thrown by his father, Dwight, on May 22, 2025, stands out as a personal milestone, and the announcement of a second Tommy John surgery in July 2025 represents one of the most challenging moments of his professional career.
Clarke Schmidt Career Highlights
Major League Highlights
Schmidt earned his first major league win on April 19, 2022, and recorded his first career save on July 24, 2022, against the Baltimore Orioles. Across 14 starts in 2022, he posted a 3.32 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 78+2⁄3 innings pitched. He made the Yankees Opening Day roster in 2022, a clear sign of his standing within the organization.
Clarke Schmidt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Schmidt’s brother, Clate Schmidt, played college baseball at Clemson from 2013 to 2016. Clate was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015 but recovered and became a professional player, last playing for the Single-A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2019. The Schmidt family has produced two professional baseball players, with both brothers having faced and overcome significant medical challenges during their careers.
Personal Life
Schmidt’s father, Dwight Schmidt, has a military background as a 30-year veteran of the US Marine Corps and works as a pilot. Dwight has piloted the Yankees team plane on several occasions during Clarke’s time with the organization, a unique family connection to the club. The May 22, 2025 ceremonial first pitch between father and son reflected the family’s deep ties to baseball and to the Yankees organization.
2025 Season Performance
Schmidt’s 2025 season began as a member of the Yankees starting rotation, with hopes of building on his earlier major league experience. He appeared in games for New York before the Yankees announced on July 10, 2025, that he would undergo a second Tommy John surgery, ending his season. The injury represented a major interruption to a campaign that had positioned him as a key piece of the pitching staff.
The 2025 season storyline for Schmidt shifted dramatically from on-field performance to recovery and long-term outlook. With a second Tommy John procedure now part of his medical history, his focus turned to rehabilitation and a return to the mound in a future season. The Yankees’ handling of his recovery and his eventual return will shape the next chapter of his major league career.