Wrapping up the season on Schmidt

By and large, it was a successful season for the Yankees 2017 first rounder Clarke Schmidt. He got a late start to his pro career due to TJ Surgery prior to being drafted. Last year was more about getting back on the mound and hurling a few innings.

However, 2019 was where he could start to be unleashed a bit more, and he certainly met expectations.

Schmidt started the season in high A Tampa on a high note, dueling with Casey Mize and throwing 5 no hit innings with 9Ks in his first start of the year. His results after that were a bit mixed, showing flashes of dominance sprinkled in between a few mediocre starts. Plus, he landed on the IL for about a month in May/June.

Once he got back, he started to build his innings back up, and was throwing some gas in mid-summer. He earned the call-up to AA in August for the team's playoff run, and after a rocky debut in which he gave up 5 ERs, he was lights out after that. In his last two starts of the regular season, he put 0s.

He then got to toe the mound in the post-season, and was an absolute beast in helping to lead Trenton to the EL crown. In the opening round, Jordan Montgomery of the Yankees made the start to continue his rehab, but then it was Schmidt who came in and shut the door. Just look at this quote:

“I wanted to make it known that it was my game,” Schmidt said. “I told (pitching coach) Tim Norton in the eighth that I didn’t like how they were warming up down there and I wanted to finish the game.”

That's a bulldog right there!

Schmidt then toed the rubber against Bowie, throwing 4.2 innings, giving up a run, and striking out 9. Trenton ended up winning the Eastern League.

I assume Schmidt will open the season in Trenton again, and a quick promotion to AAA Scranton won't be far away as long as he continues to progress. He might even be an option for the Yankees at some point.

I know pitchers are risky, but I've been stocking up on Schmidts before he gets too expensive. Here are a few recents from over the summer.

I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to climb within the organization!