Clarke Schmidt had Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm in May. On Monday night, the Yankees drafted him anyway with the 16th overall pick in the draft.

Ranked as the No. 25 overall draft prospect by Baseball America, the South Carolina right-hander landed right where draft experts expected him to go before the injury that many believed would damage his draft stock.

Schmidt’s stellar junior season was cut short two months ago, when he suffered a season-ending ulnar collateral ligament tear. The crafty pitcher with a fastball that reaches 96 mph and a slider, curveball and changeup in his repertoire intrigued the Yankees despite concerns over his irregular delivery.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Schmidt dazzled on the mound this season as the Gamecocks ace. He went 4-2 in nine starts while posting a 1.34 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings. The 21-year-old held opponents to a .194 batting average.

The Yankees stayed focused on pitching in the second round when they took right-handed starter Matt Sauer with the 54th pick. Sauer, 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, attended Ernest Righetti High School in Santa Maria, Calif.