Yankees promote Schmidt to active roster

Just one week after they called upon one of their top pitching prospects for his Major League debut, the Yankees added another highly touted arm to the roster.

New York on Friday promoted Clarke Schmidt from its alternate training site prior to the nightcap of their doubleheader against the Orioles in Baltimore.

The second-ranked Yankees prospect was an option to pitch in last Sunday's twinbill against the Mets, but the team instead promoted third-ranked Deivi Garcia for his Major League debut. The idea was teased by general manager Brian Cashman, but the right-hander ultimately was added to the 40-man roster on Friday.

MLB.com's No. 94 overall prospect was limited to 114 professional innings since being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 Draft. Schmidt underwent Tommy John surgery weeks before the Draft and debuted in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League the following June.

The 24-year-old does not issue many walks but sometimes struggles with the command of three plus pitches. He gets heavy sink on this two-seam fastball and some cutting action on his four-seamer. Schmidt also throws a changeup and curveball.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound University of South Carolina product sports a 3.39 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.42 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 appearances -- including 25 starts -- in the Minors. Last year, Schmidt pitched across three levels and reached Double-A Trenton for his final three starts of the regular season and two Eastern League playoff appearances.

“I hold myself to a high regard. I always have,” Schmidt told MLB.com last month. “I'm a very confident kid and I'll do whatever it takes to make this team.”

The Georgia native pitched seven innings over four appearances this spring, allowing four runs -- two earned -- and nine hits while striking out eight. He continued making good impressions as the season restarted, limiting the Yanks' potent lineup to one hit over two innings in an intrasquad game on July 6.