Who’s that sitting on cloud nine? Oh hey, it’s Clarke Schmidt! Just a few days ago, he got huge praise from the New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman. This all but confirmed what had been suspected for a long time – Schmidt was the no.5 in the Pinstripes rotational lineup. Now, just a few days later, he has found another appreciator in a new arrival at the Yankee Stadium – Marcus Stroman.

Even though one cannot call Schmidt’s 2023 an elite season, there were glimpses of it throughout the year. With that being his first full year as a starter, things might only go up for the 27-year-old. But it’s still interesting to see how the entire Bombers Squad is so in on this explosive pitcher. 

Marcus Stroman becomes a fan of Clarke Schmidt

Marcus Stroman had already made it clear before signing with the New York Yankees that he was impressed with the team. But during his introductory conference, Stroman spelled out why this roster looks good to him. At first, he was all praises for Gerrit Cole, but then the surprise came when he shifted to Clarke Schmidt. According to NJ.com, Stroman was ultra high on the 27-year-old’s potential. 

“I truly think Clarke Schmidt is going to be a guy for many, many years in this league once he fine-tunes some little things. His repertoire is incredible. He’s got some big, big, big-time stuff,” Stroman said about Schmidt. 

The new arrival also declared that Schmidt has the kind of talent that can keep him in the major leagues for a long time. This comes just after reports of Brian Cashman praising Schmidt made rounds around the internet. The GM was impressed by the evolution of the 27-year-old and hoped that things continue to rise for the pitcher. 

In 33 games (32 stars), Clarke had an ERA of 4.64. Not an earth-shattering number, but it was the underlying stuff that painted a pretty picture. Gone was the wayward throwing Clarke. In 2023, the pitcher gained immense control over his pitches and was seen regularly hitting the zone. This led to reduced walks and showed that he was improving quicker than expected.

Watch this story:- Ranking top 5 best lineups in baseball 

So with Stroman entering and Schmidt starting to discover his engines, the Yankees lineup looks quite good.

The New York Yankees lineup – a secret for success

During December, there were rumblings that the Yankees’ lineup was looking too weak. Experts and fans alike wondered whether improving their hitting had the Pinstripes hurt their pitching. But after the entry of Marcus Stroman, things have changed considerably for the Bombers’ pitching staff.

With the likes of Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt, things look good. With Carlos Rodon looking to return to his peak form, there are reasons to believe this Yankees lineup can create a perfect winning path for the team. The real question mark lies in the bullpen – are the Yankees fit enough to replace these pitchers if they get injured? The answer, as of now, might not be liked so much by the Yankee Nation.

Read more: Peculiar Baseball Cycle Starting in 2007 Puts New York Yankees as Favorites for 2024 World Series