Top pick signs, begins path back from injury

Clarke Schmidt didn’t have any expectations for the MLB draft. Forty days prior, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Suffice it to say, the 6-foot-1 righthander from the University of South Carolina was thrilled when the Yankees took him with the 16th overall pick of the opening round.

“I was pretty surprised,” the Georgia native, who was ranked 49th by MLB.com ahead of the draft, said on a conference call. “I think any kid, when you’re growing up, you have dreams of playing Major League Baseball, and for that to be with the New York Yankees is special to me.

“I was just happy and blessed. To be taken by such a wonderful franchise and a historic franchise is a blessing.”

On Saturday, he opted to sign with the Yankees and bypass his final year of eligibility, reportedly inking a below-slot signing bonus of $2.184 million. The value for the pick was $3.458 million. Schmidt is hopeful he can begin throwing by September, though he has yet to discuss a timetable with the Yankees for a throwing program.

“Right now it’s a lot of mobility work and easing back into it,” he said. “The progressions have come quickly, so I can tell everything’s going well so far.”

Schmidt, who grew up idolizing Tim Hudson, tore his UCL on April 20 and underwent surgery May 3. At the time of the injury, through 60 ¹/3 innings pitched, he was 4-2 with a 1.34 ERA, 70 strikeouts and 18 walks, making for an impressive 3.9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As a sophomore, he went 9-5 with a 3.40 ERA, struck out 129 and walked 27 over 111 ¹/3 innings.

“I have a lot of sinking action on my fastball, so to be able to pitch off a sinker and get a lot of ground balls, with a good slider, I can get good chases out of the zone,” Schmidt said. “That’s always been my go-to; not walking a lot of guys.”