Gamecock MLB Draft Profile: RHP Clarke Schmidt

MLB Draft Result: 1st Round, 16th pick New York Yankees

Before he was sidelined with an elbow Injury mid-season, Clarke Schmidt had more than lived up to his billing as a 2017 preseason All-American. In 60 and a third innings through nine starts, Schmidt was in the top D-1 percentiles in ERA, opponent OBP and strikeout/walk ratio.

He was a sure fire top-ten round pick before the injury, and as we stand today it’s clear the injury didn’t affect scouts minds. Schmidt stands six-foot-one and a lean 205 pounds hailing from Allatoona High School in Acworth, Ga. where he was undrafted out of high school. He’s got a three pitch mix, with the fastball and slider being his two main weapons.

The fastball tops out at 96 and the change-up had developed nicely since he became a started in 2015. He has excellent control over his stuff and was a model citizen on and off the diamond. If he can move past this injury and keep the change-up developing, Schmidt can have a nice future as a professional pitcher.