New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt has suffered a tear in his UCL and is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, as reported by Yankees manager Aaron Boone. This unfortunate development means Schmidt will miss the remainder of the 2025 season and likely part of the 2026 season, given the typical 13 to 15-month recovery timeline associated with such procedures.
The injury comes after Schmidt was placed on the 15-day injured list due to forearm tightness, an issue he admitted to experiencing for a month. His performances this season, which included a stretch of 28 consecutive scoreless innings in June, highlighted his potential. However, Schmidt struggled in his last two outings, allowing seven earned runs over nine innings.
Previously delayed by a rotator cuff condition, Schmidt had a solid start to the season with a 3.32 ERA over 78 2/3 innings. While his strikeout and walk rates were average, he excelled at limiting hard contact and benefitted from favorable batted ball luck, reflected in a .232 BABIP. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Schmidt’s injury adds to their pitching woes, as he joins teammates Gerrit Cole and Jake Cousins in needing Tommy John surgery this season.
This marks the second time Schmidt has undergone this surgery, having previously had the procedure in 2017 while at the University of South Carolina. This increased likelihood of a longer rehabilitation period raises doubts about his availability, pushing a potential return to Opening Day 2027 into the realm of possibility. His arbitration-controlled status through 2027 might lead the Yankees to consider a non-tender option this winter, possibly re-signing him for a two-year deal with most compensation allotted for when he returns.
In terms of rotation depth, the Yankees may have options. Ryan Yarbrough and Luis Gil are expected to return post-All-Star break, bolstering the rotation, which also includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren. Additionally, they could address their needs through trades as the deadline approaches, considering their struggles with a record of 6-15 in the last 21 games.
Despite the setback of Schmidt’s injury, there is a glimmer of hope as the return of pitching talents from injury affords the Yankees an opportunity to adjust their strategies and maintain competitiveness moving forward.