Schmidt nears Yankees return after second rehab start
Clarke Schmidt took another step toward rejoining the New York Yankees on Wednesday, tossing two innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The outing matters for yankee standings hopes because the club is preparing the veteran right-hander for a bullpen role that could shore up late-inning depth.
Key Takeaways
- Schmidt allowed one run over two innings on 23 pitches (20 strikes) for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
- He struck out three, walked none, touched 95.1 mph and mixed five pitch types.
- His first rehab outing came Saturday at Double-A Somerset, where he allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
- The Yankees are preparing Schmidt for a relief return while Fernando Cruz remains on the injured list.
What did Clarke Schmidt do in his second rehab start?
According to MLB.com, Schmidt faced Lehigh Valley, the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, and scattered three hits across two innings of one-run ball. He recorded three strikeouts and did not walk a batter on a night that showed sharper command than his Somerset debut.
The 30-year-old mixed five pitches — four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, slider and knuckle curveball — averaging 94.1 mph on his four-seamer and topping out at 95.1 mph on the radar gun.
How does Schmidt's rehab path affect the Yankees bullpen?
Wednesday marked the latest step in Schmidt's recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in July 2025, a process he described as "very seamless" about six weeks ago. He began the rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Saturday before advancing to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Rather than slotting him back into the rotation, the Bombers are preparing Schmidt to return to the Majors in a relief role. That plan could boost a unit navigating the loss of right-hander Fernando Cruz, who is on the injured list with a partially torn UCL.
Fans following Celebrity Breaking News will watch how that depth shift plays into roster decisions as Schmidt builds up pitch counts.
When could Schmidt be back with the Yankees?
No firm return date has been announced. Schmidt started 63 games for the Yankees from 2023-25 and had established himself as a vital rotation cog before the surgery altered his path.
Moving from Somerset to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the rocky first outing signals progress. Cleaner Triple-A work keeps him on track for a Bronx return that could give New York another trusted arm while yankee standings remain a focus for club watchers down the stretch.