VIDEO: Yankees Top Prospect Clarke Schmidt's Two-Seamer and Curve Were Legitimately Nasty on Sunday
By Scott Rogust
With Luis Severino and James Paxton on the sidelines, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is using the remainder of Spring Training to find his No. 5 starter in the rotation. One of the six pitchers in the running is pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt, and he made a name for himself on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. During the game, Schmidt used a two-seam fastball, and it's absolutely devastating.
Check out the movement on Clarke Schmidt’s two seam. pic.twitter.com/mbdfU0d4Zy
— Evan Daniel (@mrevandaniel) March 8, 2020
Good luck trying to hit that. And did you catch his breaker, too?
That's yummy. @ClarkeSchmidt pic.twitter.com/eq0pieCJrq
— Evan Daniel (@mrevandaniel) March 8, 2020
Even though Schmidt has been lighting it up down in Florida this spring, it's likely that Boone will name someone with major league experience as their fifth starter. Jonathan Loaisiga fits the bill, and has also dominated in preseason action.
Clarke Schmidt is absolutely disgusting. ? pic.twitter.com/AoHpM1Qwr7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 27, 2020
If Schmidt does end up losing the battle, it will only be a matter of time before he receives a call-up, which could come as early as the 2020 regular season.