The roar of the crowd, the crack of the bat, the thrill of victory—these are the things that make baseball the beloved American pastime. But behind every successful pitcher is a web of knowledge and support. For the New York Yankees, that web is getting a new thread with the mentorship blooming between veteran Marcus Stroman and rising star Clarke Schmidt.

Stroman, a sinker-ball specialist, sees a bit of himself in Schmidt. The Yankees’ front office recognized this potential synergy, deliberately placing their lockers side-by-side. This proximity has sparked something special: a mentorship where Stroman’s experience guides Schmidt’s raw talent. Could this dynamic be the secret ingredient the Yankees need to push their pitching staff to the next level?

Marcus Stroman’s strategic similarity sparks mentorship

Schmidt describes picking Stroman’s brain as “awesome,” according to The New York Post, while in him Stroman sees a pitcher with “elite” stuff and a burning desire to learn. Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone confirms the positive connection.

The skipper states, “I know Marcus was real interested from the jump, watching his bullpens and seeing his arsenal a little bit,” observing that the pair “hit it off right away.” This mentorship goes beyond mere camaraderie. Schmidt seeks to glean strategic insights from Marcus Stroman’s experience. And the dividends are already visible this Spring Training.

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Schmidt has debuted a revamped changeup, now thrown with a split-finger grip for greater depth and deception. Watching Kevin Gausman’s pitches at Yankee Stadium reportedly inspired this change, but Stroman’s experience with splitters undoubtedly added further nuance to the lessons.

Clarke Schmidt: Pitching toward a glorious future

During a recent Spring Training outing, Schmidt pleased both himself and likely his veteran mentor, Marcus Stroman, by demonstrating an impressive command of this new pitch, transforming his changeup to a split-changeup. This isn’t his first foray into learning from the Yankees’ aces. Last year, Gerrit Cole helped guide his development.

Now, with Stroman offering complementary knowledge of sinkers and splitters, Schmidt is poised to solidify his role within the Bombers’ rotation. While Cole and others focus on fly-balls and four-seamers, a Stroman-mentored Schmidt would offer a valuable change of pace for opposing batters.

Read More: Marcus Stroman Key to Yankees’ World Series Aspirations? New York Native Set to Exceed Expectations

“Anytime you have guys who have had success in the big leagues for a long time… I have a lot of insight to give to the young guys,” Marcus Stroman acknowledges. Schmidt, eager to learn, is a prime example. As Spring Training progresses, expect this mentorship to yield a more polished and effective Clarke Schmidt, a development that can only bolster the New York Yankees’ starting pitching depth.