Clemson: Schmidt, White will be back with baseball team

Right-hander Clate Schmidt and infielder Eli White will both return to Clemson for the 2016 season after being selected in the 2015 MLB draft in June, the team announced Friday.

The deadline for players to sign with an MLB team was Friday at 5 p.m.

Schmidt, from Acworth, Ga., was drafted in the 32nd round (No. 951 overall pick) by the Boston Red Sox.

As a junior in 2015, Schmidt had a 2-3 record and 4.67 ERA in 18 appearances (six starts). He was diagnosed with nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May, then was drafted by the Red Sox on June 10, the same day he began chemotherapy.

"Clate has been a big part of our pitching staff the last three years," coach Monte Lee said. "He has made more starts than any other returning starter on the 2016 team. We expect big things from Clate.

White, from Easley, was drafted in the 37th round (No. 1,117 overall pick) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

White was a Third-Team All-ACC selection in 2015 after hitting .297 with four homers, 29 RBIs and 11 steals in 61 starts at shortstop.

"I'm also really excited about Eli coming back for his junior year," Lee said. "He's been a big part of our program over the last couple of years and will be a centerpiece of our team in 2016."

Tigers signee and lefthander Jake Higginbotham (Cumming, Ga.) will also join the 2016 Tigers after being drafted in the 27th round (No. 809 overall pick) by the New York Mets.

"Jake is a newcomer who set a lot of records in high school in Georgia," Lee said. "We're looking forward to seeing him work on the mound when we start practice in the fall."

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Clemson: Schmidt, White will be back with baseball team."