“Mentally, I’ve learned more in the last year than I have in almost my entire career.” These were the words of Clarke Schmidt, the fast-rising pitching sensation of the New York Yankees. While last season was an abyss for his team, for Schmidt, it catapulted him to the team’s starting lineup. For the first time in his career, the 28-year-old pitched over 150 innings. Now he has revealed the great role of Gerrit Cole in his endeavor. 

Gerrit Cole’s been perhaps the most consistent pitcher of the past decade. The ace has performed like a robot and has rarely been on the injured list. Year after year, Cole stood on that mound with a fire in his eyes. While that streak has ended this year due to his elbow injury, Schmidt’s words reveal the core philosophy that guides Cole’s whole career: “Push through it!”

In an interview with the New York Post, Yankees’ No. 4 in rotation Clarke Schmidt talked about his breakthrough in 2023. With 159 innings pitched, Schmidt was the clear second-in-command to Gerrit Cole. But for Schmidt, this wasn’t an easy job. His body threatened to quit on him many times, and so did his spirit. Mentally, he was exhausted because he was not used to such high pitching numbers. But then Gerrit Cole wouldn’t allow Schmidt to quit before trying.

“He was a big motivating factor at the end,” Schmidt said about Cole. “He’s like, ‘Bro, you gotta just callous your body. Whatever you’re dealing with at the end of the year or whatever you’re feeling, just continue to push through.” These words of the Cy Young winner acted as fuel for Schmidt. Despite struggling and seemingly losing his gas by the season’s end, Schmidt stood on the mound as frequently as possible.

That also impressed Cole, who remains adamant in his belief that Schmidt has improved and will surely make a “real impact” on the team in the coming years.

Gerrit Cole shows his support as Clarke Schmidt continues to tick upwards

The Yankees’ ace shared that he used his personal experience to motivate Schmidt. He indicated that, despite advancements in technology, one cannot replace the experience of being out on the ballpark. “The more you’re out there, the slower the games for you,” said Cole. As a result, the superstar felt that Schmidt’s increasing pitch count was the only way for the pitcher to improve. 

“If he had the same stuff and the same locations as last year, but he had more experience with his mind, I believe he would be able to maximize his performance,” Cole said. Then the ace also noted that Schmidt’s pitching style had also “ticked up a little” during the 2024 Spring Training. As a result, he believes that the Yankees’ young pitcher will find a way to leave an impact on the team.

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But this story proves that Cole’s impact is even more profound than initially thought. While he is a tremendous on-field player, his off-field leadership skills have made Cole a beloved part of the Yankees clubhouse.

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