The New York Yankees today announced that right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt is the recipient of the 2022 James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the most outstanding Yankees rookie in spring training.

In three appearances (two starts), Schmidt, 26, went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing just six hits and two walks while leading all Yankees pitchers with 11 strikeouts and 9.1 innings pitched. The El Toro, Calif., native was selected by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. Clarke also won the Dawson Award in 2020.

The award was established in honor of James P. Dawson (1896-1953), who began a 45-year career with The New York Times as a copy boy in 1908. Eight years later, he became boxing editor and covered boxing and baseball until his death during spring training in 1953.

Two winners of the honor, Tony Kubek in 1957 and Tom Tresh in 1962, went on to win the American League “Rookie of the Year” Award. The Dawson Award first was presented to rookie Norm Siebern by Manager Casey Stengel in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the conclusion of spring training in 1956. New York Yankees beat writers vote on the winner.

In conjunction with the award, Schmidt will receive a watch courtesy of Betteridge Jewelers.