South Carolina junior right-handed pitcher and well-regarded MLB First-Year Player Draft prospect Clarke Schmidt will miss the rest of the 2017 season after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Surgery date hasn’t been determined.
“This is obviously tough news for Clarke and everyone associated with our baseball program,” said South Carolina head coach Chad Holbrook said in the school’s statement. “Clarke is a special kid with a bright future in front of him and our program will be with him every step of the way.
“He has been an incredible representative of our university and baseball program and I’m sure he will make a full recovery. I have no doubt he will achieve his goal and dream of pitching in the Major Leagues.”
Prior to the injury, Schmidt would have likely been a first-round pick in June’s MLB Draft, possessing middle-of-the-rotation starter potential.
Schmidt went 4-2 with a 1.34 ERA and a 70-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nine starts this spring.
Find more MLB Draft coverage here.
