The Yankees are finally about to get a much-needed reinforcement in their rotation, and Clarke Schmidt is arriving with momentum. After battling through a spring slowed by a shoulder issue, Schmidt looked sharp in his final tune-up on Thursday night with Double-A Somerset.
Sharp Command, Strong Velo in Cold Conditions
Schmidt tossed 61 pitches—45 of them for strikes—over four scoreless innings. He gave up just three hits, struck out four, and looked entirely in control. In crisp Northeast air, his fastball topped out at 94 mph, a strong sign that his shoulder is holding up well and his stuff is trending in the right direction.
The crispness of his outing wasn’t just in the temperature. Schmidt had command, confidence, and presence on the mound—everything the Yankees have been hoping to see from a pitcher they’re counting on heavily with Gerrit Cole out for the season.
Ready to Rejoin the Rotation
Following his outing, Schmidt confirmed that he feels ready to go, with a return to the big league roster expected sometime this upcoming week. With the Yankees still patching the rotation together using Carlos Carrasco and rookie Will Warren, Schmidt’s arrival could stabilize a unit that has been teetering since the season began.
Last year, Schmidt quietly became a key piece, posting a 2.85 ERA over 85.1 innings with a 9.81 K/9 rate and an 80% left-on-base rate. He was efficient, kept the ball on the ground, and showed the ability to handle mid-rotation duties at a high level.
What Comes Next for Carrasco and Warren?
Once Schmidt is activated, the Yankees will need to shuffle the deck. Carrasco could move into a long-relief role—a likely fit given his age and durability concerns. Will Warren may be optioned back to Triple-A to continue refining his command, especially after a mixed bag to open the season,
Regardless of how the Yankees structure the rest of the rotation, Schmidt’s return brings some much-needed stability to a group that’s been held together by duct tape early on.