The Yankees’ first selection is in and the team has picked right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt from the University of South Carolina. Schmidt underwent Tommy John surgery in April after tearing his UCL while serving as the Gamecocks’ Friday night starter.
It was a departure from everything the Yankees had been linked to in mock drafts to this point, and it seems like a move that could allow them to save some money for later picks. Ideally they’d get the best pick with their earliest selection, but that’s not always how it works.
Here is a video of Schmidt in action:
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