For a New York Yankees team already rolling with a 44-27 record, the idea of adding a quality arm to the rotation late in the season might sound like a luxury. But Clarke Schmidt’s latest step forward in his Tommy John surgery recovery suggests it’s becoming a real possibility — and one that could reshape how this team looks come October.
On Wednesday, Schmidt threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium, his most significant on-field work since undergoing the procedure. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed the session went off without a hitch, though he stopped short of setting a firm timeline for the next phase. According to Gary Phillips, Boone said Schmidt is still “a couple weeks out” from facing live hitters for the first time. Schmidt previously told reporters he was aiming to get into live batting practice by the end of the month.
The timing is worth paying attention to. Earlier reports indicated the right-hander could return before the regular season wraps up, and Wednesday’s bullpen keeps that window open. What remains unclear — and what the Yankees front office is likely assessing behind closed doors — is whether Schmidt will have enough time to build back to full strength for a postseason role, or if a late-summer return would be more about getting innings under his belt for 2026.
What Schmidt Brings When He’s Right
Before the injury, Schmidt was quietly putting together a strong 2025 campaign. In 14 starts, he posted a 3.32 ERA and showed the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that made him a first-round pick back in 2017. His four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s, and his sweeper has become a legitimate out pitch against right-handed hitters.
The advanced numbers back up the eye test. Schmidt’s chase rate and whiff percentage on his breaking balls rank among the better marks for Yankee starters when healthy. For a rotation that has already weathered injuries to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Nestor Cortes at various points this season, adding a pitcher with Schmidt’s upside — even in a limited role — would give the coaching staff options they didn’t have a month ago.
Injury Context: Why This Matters More Than a Standard Update
The Yankees have been one of the most injured teams in baseball this year, full stop. Yet they sit three games clear of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, a testament to the depth the organization has managed to develop and the performances of players like Juan Soto, who has been worth every penny of his blockbuster trade acquisition. But pitching depth tends to thin out in September and October. Having a guy like Schmidt, even if he’s only stretched to three or four innings per appearance, could be the difference between relying on a bullpen game in a playoff series or handing the ball to a proven big-league starter.
Fans online have noted that Schmidt’s recovery pace looks encouraging compared to similar timelines for other pitchers coming off Tommy John surgery. The team has not confirmed any specific return date, and they likely won’t until Schmidt clears the live-hitters hurdle. But for a club with World Series aspirations, this is the kind of quiet progress that gets circled on the calendar.
The Yankees are back in action Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox at 7:05 PM EST. It’s a game they’re expected to win — but the real story for New York might be what’s happening behind the scenes.
Leave a Comment