MLB Spring Training: With New York Yankees’ Blake Snell Deal Unlikely, Will Clarke Schmidt Step Up?

Clarke Schmidt is about to get an opportunity of a lifetime. In a season where the New York Yankees struggled, he grew “better and better”. Schmidt’s performance warranted a chance in the rotation, but the team’s links with Blake Snell did put a doubt in many minds. But now that those links have grown cold, the Yankees need Schmidt to prove that he “can handle anything.”

The current rotational lineup of the Bombers might look star-studded, but it has its issues. While the franchise is trying to solve them as quickly as possible, until then Schmidt has to step up. While last year proved to be his breakout, 2024 is the one where he’ll have to consolidate his position.

The New York Yankees enter the battlefield with their spirits high

The will-they or won’t-they of the Yankees and Blake Snell has started to lean on the unlikely category. It isn’t a surprise – the payroll issues of the Bombers are too big to ignore. So it has made the role of Clarke Schmidt special and the Yankees staff knows this. The Athletic reports that the skipper Aaron Boone is extremely high on the pitcher.

“I don’t want to put a cap on him. The reality is, we’ve seen him get better and better,” Boone declared. The skipper then went on to praise the attitude and mentality of Schmidt. Noting how his comeback from “an 8-whatever ERA in New York”, showed Boone that Schmidt can handle anything. 

While Boone has complete faith in Schmidt, the 28-year-old needs to live up to that belief in 2024. The season of 2023 was his breakout year. With a 4.64 ERA in 33 games (32 starts) and 159 innings, Schmidt wasn’t quite at an elite level. Though one could see that the overall downturn in the Yankees’ form affected his performances, still Schmidt needs to take the next step soon. 

Read more: Stat Battle: Why Yankees Prefer Dylan Cease Over 2x Cy Young Winner Blake Snell

It’s a big responsibility, and the pitcher is ready for it. He has already made small changes to his pitching style in 2024.

Clarke Schmidt is up for any challenge 

The Yankees’ pitcher revealed that he has changed most of his pitches for 2024. To become better against lefties, Schmidt has changed his curveball to have more depth and arrive a little slower to the plate. Similarly, he has tweaked his sinker and cutter to sharpen their edges and make them distinct from each other. The 28-year-old also mentioned how Gerrit Cole has “really” taken him under his wing.

Sharing how whether it was early in the season or during later stages, Cole always helped him out. That has certainly improved the camaraderie and quality of Schmidt. While the Yankees aren’t short of stories, Schmidt’s opportunity is one of the more interesting ones on the horizon.

Read more: MLB Updates: Marcus Stroman Lauds Fellow Yankees Pitcher, Following Bombers GM Brian Cashman’s Positive Comments