Former South Carolina baseball star slated to return from injury, ramp up for playoff run

Former South Carolina baseball star pitcher turned New York Yankees hurler Clarke Schmidt was having one of the best seasons of all American League pitchers when he strained his right lat muscle two months into the 2024 campaign.

Lat injuries are notoriously slow healers for pitchers, so Schmidt has missed over three months on the IL, but according to reports out of New York, including one from The Athletic's Chris Kirschner, the right-handed starter will be coming off of the IL and will be inserted back into the Yankees' rotation this weekend when the team takes on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Schmidt will get the ball on Saturday looking to pick up where he left off before he got hurt. In every start of this season (and the final two of the 2023 campaign), Schmidt has given up 3 runs or fewer, keeping his team in the game each time he has taken the mound. It's no surprise that the Yankees are 10-3 in those starts.

Schmidt is looking to regain his pre-injury form and be a catalyst for a final Yankee push in the American League East standings. New York currently trails the Baltimore Orioles by one-half game in the division standings, and they lead the American League Wild Card race comfortably.

Despite the Yankees being a perennial playoff contender, Schmidt has never gotten a start in the postseason. He has three total relief appearances for the Bronx Bombers but, as long as everything goes well with his return, is expected to be part of the starting rotation this go-round for Aaron Boone's team.

For South Carolina baseball fans who want to tune in to check out Schmidt's start, the Yankees and Cubs will start at 2:20 PM ET on Saturday and will be broadcast on the YES Network and MLBTV.