The Yankees surprised many in the 2017 draft when they selected Clarke Schmidt with the 16th overall pick in the first round. Schmidt had been trending toward top-10 pick territory before blowing out his elbow late in the college season for South Carolina. The Yankees took him, knowing that they would have a talented pitcher waiting on the backside of his rehab. However, it’s now been almost five years since Schmidt was drafted, and the near-26-year-old has yet to carve out a steady role with the major league team. The upcoming season will thus be crucial for his development, as he’s still a long way from establishing himself as a major league regular.
Clarke Schmidt has reached a pivotal point in his Yankees development
