Clarke Schmidt’s Resilience: From College Injury to Potential World Series Glory

In April 2017, Chad Holbrook, then the head coach at the University of South Carolina, had to deliver devastating news to Clarke Schmidt, a promising junior starting pitcher. An MRI revealed a complete tear of Schmidt’s ulnar collateral ligament, necessitating Tommy John surgery and sidelining him for at least a year. This injury came just months before Schmidt hoped to be drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft.

“The kid was crushed,” Holbrook recalled, though Schmidt quickly regained his composure. “It’s OK,” Schmidt said. “I’ll attack this thing and be fine.” Now, seven years later, Schmidt is living up to those words as he prepares to pitch for the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, aiming to bring his team closer to their first World Series appearance since 2009.

The Yankees took a risk in the 2017 MLB Draft by selecting Schmidt 16th overall, investing $2,184,300 in a player recovering from surgery. Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ director of amateur scouting, noted that it was Schmidt’s character that ultimately convinced them. “(Schmidt) was real positive,” Oppenheimer stated, highlighting Schmidt’s determination and strong mental makeup as key factors that set him apart.

Schmidt hails from a supportive family; his father, Dwight, was a former Marine pilot, and his older brother, Clate, overcame cancer while playing at Clemson. These experiences contributed to Schmidt’s resilience, which was evident to all who knew him, including Holbrook.

Despite the challenges, Schmidt quickly emerged as one of college baseball’s top pitchers. Holbrook fondly remembers Schmidt’s performance against Auburn in 2017, shortly before his injury, as one of the best he had seen. Schmidt’s dominance continued to impress scouts, including Oppenheimer, who recalled a standout game against Vanderbilt where Schmidt recorded 11 strikeouts in seven innings.

The Yankees were further encouraged by Schmidt’s confidence and presence, qualities noted by Yankees manager Aaron Boone during Schmidt’s early workouts with the team in 2020. Schmidt’s progression from college standout to key MLB player was marked by establishing himself in the Yankees’ rotation last season and consistently performing well this year until a right lat strain interrupted his progress.

This season, Schmidt went 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA in his first 11 starts before the injury and demonstrated his capability to perform under pressure by helping the Yankees win a decisive AL Division Series game against the Astros. Known for his work ethic and unwavering self-belief, Schmidt attributes his success to his Christian faith and the strong characteristics recognized by Oppenheimer and Holbrook.

As Schmidt prepares to face a rowdy Cleveland crowd, he exudes confidence. “Pitching on the road with the fans coming at your throat,” he said, “it’s kind of fun to have the ability to silence them whenever you want to get the job done.” Holbrook, reflecting on Schmidt’s journey, expressed his pride: “It was a crushing moment but he handled it like a rock. Couldn’t be more proud of him.”