NEW YORK – Clarke Schmidt will take the ball for his fifth Minor League rehab appearance on Saturday with Double-A Somerset. It’s “possible” that will represent his final hurdle before rejoining the Yankees, manager Aaron Boone said.
Schmidt is recovering from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure performed in July 2025.
Across his four previous Minor League outings with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Schmidt has permitted three runs in 5 2/3 innings (4.76 ERA), with six hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.
“I’ve been pleased,” Boone said. “I felt like his last live BP that I saw here [at Yankee Stadium], I was like, ‘OK, that’s Clarke coming out well.’ I feel like he’s throwing the ball well in his games, too, so he’s in a good spot.”
Schmidt was 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts last season. He owns a 23-24 record across 97 games (67 starts), all with the Yanks, dating back to 2020.
While the Yankees view Schmidt as a starting pitcher long-term, they would use him out of the bullpen in September and potentially entering the postseason.
“He feels good, he looks good,” Boone said. “He’s got some dirt in the cleats now in some game settings. Hopefully he can play a role for us.”
Schmidt may be activated during the Yankees’ road trip to visit the Twins and D-backs. That, as well as the expected return of Ryan Weathers, could provide in-house boosts for the bullpen.
Currently on the injured list with a left forearm flexor strain sustained in late August, Weathers played catch on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. He is scheduled to resume throwing from a mound early next week, Boone said.
“That’s a potential reality that may happen,” Boone said.