The New York Yankees‘ rotation is not the most stable unit in baseball right now. They have suffered with injuries, most notably with Luis Severino. They have also endured suspensions, personified by Domingo German. Others have had issues with command, such as J.A. Happ, while others are struggling with velocity, as is the case of James Paxton.
Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka currently look good, but behind them and Jordan Montgomery, everything is a question mark. Should we be encouraged by Paxton’s last start even though his fastball velo is still not ideal? Should Yankees’ fans have faith that Happ will turn it around?
Here is another idea: calling up prospect Clarke Schmidt. He says, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media, that he is ready for primetime. And he shows that he is prepared, too, with a fine 2019 in the minors (including a 3.84 ERA in Class A+ and a 2.37 mark in 19.0 Double-A innings.) and a very good spring training and summer camp.
The Yankees have him stretched out to four innings
Schmidt has been in the New York Yankees’ alternate training site working with Director of Pitching Sam Briend and Manager of Pitch Development Desi Druschel on several things, most notably his two-seam fastball.
He can almost feel that he can be up at any minute, but instead of getting anxious, he’s working on improving his game.
“I understand that my opportunity is coming, hopefully sooner than later because I’m itching to get up there and itching to be able to help the guys out and help the team win,†Schmidt said to NJ.com.
Schmidt is focusing on refining “the different shape between the four-seam and the two-seamon. Just continuing to face hitters and continuing to feel good and stay as ready as possible.”
Right now, Schmidt is stretched to four innings, and he aims to throw five the next time he steps on a mound. That next outing is expected to come Wednesday. After that, who knows? Will the Yankees give him arguably the most important call of his life?