The New York Yankees have finally received some promising news about their starting rotation.
Right-handed starter Clarke Schmidt reportedly felt “great” after throwing a cautionary bullpen session on Monday morning. Following initial concern regarding his throwing shoulder, the 29-year-old tossed roughly 25 pitches and is optimistic that he’ll return to normal.
“I wouldn’t be throwing if there was a concern of something major,” he told reporters, adding that he believes he’ll be ready to start the sixth game of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 3.
Schmidt was initially scheduled to start the club’s Monday exhibition against the Toronto Blue Jays but was scratched from the lineup due to shoulder fatigue.
“With some of the attrition we’ve had, it’s not something we want to push,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday. “He’s just not bouncing back as well as he wanted to.”
The righty entered training camp with a “cranky back” that postponed his spring debut to March 11. There, he tossed 1.2 innings against the Baltimore Orioles and surrendered three runs on a Ryan Mountcastle moonshot while striking out four.
Schmidt missed over three months of the 2024 season due to a lat strain. He finished the campaign with just 16 starts but was dominant whenever he stepped on the rubber. Across 85.1 innings, Schmidt boasted a 2.85 ERA with 93 strikeouts and a 1.18 WHIP.
His numbers took a sizable dip in October. Starting in three postseason games, he held a 5.25 ERA across 12 innings pitched.
The right-hander’s health is paramount to the Yankees this season, as their starting rotation is seemingly depleting by the day. Reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will be out for at least three months with the same injury Schmidt suffered last season – a lat strain. Meanwhile, the team’s ace Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season.
“We’ve taken a number of hits in the starting rotation,” general manager Brian Cashman told reporters last week. “We certainly can’t afford to take too many more.”
The Yankees desperately need Schmidt to be available for 30-plus starts this year. He accomplished the feat back in 2023 – his first season in the starting role – with 32 starts, holding a 4.64 ERA with 149 strikeouts in 159 innings.
While two of the team’s top starters sit on the sidelines, Schmidt will attempt to hold down the fort alongside the Opening Day starter Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, Marcus Stroman, and likely an internal pick between either Will Warren or Carlos Carrasco.
