Clarke Schmidt is poised to return to the New York Yankees, having completed his rehabilitation assignment and expected to be activated for a series in Minnesota that begins Monday. Schmidt has been sidelined for over a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, with his last game appearance on July 3, 2025.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about Schmidt's potential impact, stating, “I think he could be huge.” Schmidt himself described his excitement level as “very high,” comparing his impending return to a debut after a long journey. "This has been a long journey," Schmidt said, "So a lot of anticipation, and it’s going to kind of probably feel like a debut when I go out there."
Schmidt, who initially went down as a starting pitcher, is returning as a reliever and will compete for a spot on the Yankees' October roster. He joins approximately a dozen other pitchers vying for limited bullpen spots. In five minor league outings, the 30-year-old pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs, with 11 strikeouts and one walk. He reported radar readings of 95-96 mph on his four-seam fastball, indicating he feels ready. "It was really quality, and I just noticed that my [pitch] shapes kept getting better and better each outing," Schmidt noted. "And this last outing I was like, ‘OK, I feel like my arm’s moving really quick. My body feels really good mechanically.'"
While Schmidt has a history as a reliever, his role upon return will not be that of a traditional bullpen arm. He is not expected to pitch on consecutive days immediately and will likely be limited to two innings per appearance. If these shorter outings prove effective, Schmidt, who had a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts before his injury, could become a significant asset to the bullpen. "I think he’s throwing the ball really well," Boone said. "His stuff’s really good right now. I feel like it has been for the last month. So, I think he definitely could be an interesting guy for us down there, and hopefully that’s the case."
In other team news, Giancarlo Stanton continues his hitting progression and participation in meetings, but Boone indicated that his return is not imminent. Stanton sustained his third calf strain of the season nearly four weeks ago, and there is no guarantee he will play again this season. Pitcher Trent Grisham is currently undergoing running drills after a hamstring strain on September 4, with Boone uncertain if he will be able to return during the regular season. Boone himself is managing a knee issue that worsened Saturday night, sustained while playing long toss with Aaron Judge.