Rehabbing Clarke Schmidt Shows His Stuff

Righthander Clarke Schmidt’s entry into pro ball has gone as well as the Yankees could have hoped when they selected him in the first round in 2017 out of South Carolina. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in his draft year.

“I saw his last three starts in (the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League) and he held his velocity in each inning,’’ minor league pitching coordinator Danny Borrell said of the 16th pick in last year’s draft. “His command was good and he pitched between 94-96 (mph).’’

After more than a year of rehab, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Schmidt pitched one GCL inning on June 22 in his first action since early in 2017 for the Gamecocks. The 22-year-old continued building innings as he moved closer to a promotion to a more appropriate level.

“We got him when he was rehabbing and we saw him on video, but that didn’t do him justice,’’ Borrell said. “Once we saw him live, we said, ‘That’s it.’ He has done a nice job.’’

While statistics aren’t as important as Schmidt’s health, he had pitched effectively. Through 12 innings he allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out 14 to go with a 2.25 ERA.

“His fastball command is good and he has a nice changeup,’’ Borrell said of the Acworth, Ga., resident. “We have increased his innings and his velocity has remained.’’

YANKEE DOODLES  

** Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre outfielder Clint Frazier was removed from an International League game on July 19 when it was feared he suffered a head injury. He suffered a concussion early in spring training and missed considerable time. Frazier reached the big leagues on May 15 and had been up and down since.

** Scouts gush about the stuff shown by 19-year-old Dominican righthander Luis Medina at Rookie-level Pulaski. However, he is repeating the Appalachian League, where he had run up a 9.39 ERA through six starts with 22 walks in 15.1 innings.

“He has been up and down, which is typical of somebody 18 or 19,’’ Borrell said. “His stuff is there. He pitches at 95-100 (mph) with his fastball. There are growing pains with 19-year-olds who throw as hard as he does.’’