Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Meet a Prospect: Clarke Schmidt


In my best Rob Manfred voice I am happy to inform you that with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees have selected pitcher Clarke Schmidt out of the University of South Carolina. Yeah, I’m sure everyone had the same reaction that I did when that was announced. “What?” Less than two months ago Schmidt suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that will require Tommy John surgery. This didn’t work out too well for the Yankees the last time they tried this but that is another rant for another post on another day. Let’s meet the Yankees first round pick. This is Meet a Prospect: The Clarke Schmidt Edition.

Schmidt was a Junior at the University of South Carolina at the time of his drafting and will likely forego his senior season, I mean after Tommy John surgery why would he not, to begin his professional career with the Yankees. The slot recommendation for the 16th overall selection is $3,458,600 but I would be surprised if Schmidt even got $2 million in my opinion, I’d put it closer to $1.5 million but this is pure speculation on my part. Tommy John surgeries may be common these days but they are far from guaranteed. Ask Andrew Brackman.

Schmidt finished the 2017 season with a 4-2 record and a 1.34 ERA in just nine starts which led the SEC in ERA before his injury. As a sophomore Schmidt finished with a 9-5 record and a 3.40 ERA in 18 appearances, 17 of them being as a starter, earning him third-team All-American. It seems as though Schmidt got better and refined something every single season as an amateur and would have been drafted higher if not for the injury.

The Yankees took a huge chance in drafting Schmidt knowing that he needed Tommy John surgery but that surgery will keep the price tag for the junior way down. It also lessens any chance that Schmidt will return to school for his senior season as he will not be able to pitch allowing the Yankees to take their time with him down on the farm. Freeing up the money here will also allow the team to sign Matt Sauer which is truly a win-win situation for New York. And none of this is to downplay the talent that Schmidt possesses, he has a hell of an arm and a work ethic to boot, but that more or less explains the Yankees decision making thought process here.


Regardless, Schmidt has been drafted and Schmidt is coming to the Yankees. Welcome to the family Clarke. 


2 comments:

  1. Actually you would need to make the announcement in your best 11-year-old Landis Sims voice since he's the one who announced the Clarke Schmidt pick. I was very disappointed with this pick. I thought the draft played out perfectly for the Yankees to pick your guy (D.L. Hall). Now he is an Oriole who will make millions to beat the Yankees (assuming he makes it to the Show). I do like the Matt Sauer pick which helped to offset Schmidt. But the Yankees should feel free to mix in some positional players today after yesterday's attack on right-handed pitchers.

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    1. Yes, you're right. I was watching wondering who in the heck Landis Sims was at first. I was up in arms about not taking D.L. Hall, as I am sure you can imagine. Oh well. As much as I want to rant and rave about it I won't. Or I might the longer it rumbles around in my head.

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