The Yankees developed a need for starting pitching in spring training, as a pair of starting pitchers — Luis Severino and James Paxton — went down with injuries. While Paxton is expected back, the timetable for his return and the complete absence of Severino in 2020 prompted a competition that was hardly expected when camp first opened.
A host of pitchers have had their names in the mix, but one of the brightest candidates has been Clarke Schmidt. Schmidt has climbed in the organization’s prospect rankings over the past year, becoming one of the team’s best pitching prospects.