Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

“I Want to Make It Up to Them”: Clarke Schmidt Opens Up on Years of Injury Frustration

It’s not come easy for Clarke Schmidt.

Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees may soon welcome back a familiar arm to their starting rotation, and not a moment too soon.

Right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who began the 2025 season on the injured list with right rotator cuff tendinitis, made his second rehab start on April 10 with Double-A Somerset. Schmidt looked sharp in the outing, delivering four scoreless innings with four strikeouts, no walks, and four hits allowed. Of his 61 pitches, 45 were strikes. The Yankees pitcher is expected to return to the Yankees rotation during their upcoming series against the Royals, likely taking the mound on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Clarke Schmidt threw 4 scoreless innings in his rehab start for Somerset tonight

4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (61 pitches)

3 of his 4 strikeouts came on curveballs looking 👀 pic.twitter.com/nZdXkTmmHU
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 10, 2025

“It can be frustrating especially when you’re not there competing with your guys,” Schmidt said. “I want to be one of those guys they can rely on for 32 starts every year. I want to make it up for them in the long run.”

Clarke Schmidt on getting injured before the start of the 2025 season:

"It can be frustrating especially when you're not there competing with your guys. I want to be one of those guys they can rely on for 32 starts every year. I want to make it up for them in the long run" pic.twitter.com/lyDJo8cbAN
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 11, 2025

That frustration is understandable. Injuries have been an all-too-familiar part of Schmidt’s professional journey. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017, he’s struggled to stay consistently healthy. After making just one start in 2021 and three in 2022, he finally broke through in 2023 with 32 starts and a 4.64 ERA, with 9 wins and 9 losses. But a right lat strain derailed a good chunk of his 2024 season, limiting him to just 16 starts before returning in early September and pitching in the postseason, including Game 3 of the World Series. Schmidt had a 2.85 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings for the Yankees last season.

This spring, it seemed like Clarke Schmidt was ready to build on last year’s strong finish. But just days before his scheduled Grapefruit League outing on March 16, he was scratched with shoulder discomfort that later led to his IL stint.

With Gerrit Cole out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March and Luis Gil sidelined with a lat strain, Clarke Schmidt’s return couldn’t come at a better time for an already flushed Yankees rotation. As things stand, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Marcus Stroman are locked into their roles, leaving Schmidt poised to take either veteran Carlos Carrasco’s or rookie Will Warren’s spot. Warren has Minor League options, making him a more flexible choice should the Yankees choose to make room.

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The first-place Yankees, sitting at 7-5 entering Friday, have managed to stay afloat early despite a patchwork rotation. But their team ERA ranked 23rd in MLB as of Thursday (4.44), making Schmidt’s possible return a welcome development.

It’s been a long road back, but for Clarke Schmidt, staying healthy, and staying in the fight, is the only thing that matters.

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.