Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt made his second rehab appearance on Wednesday night as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Schmidt threw 23 pitches (20 strikes) across two innings of one-run ball for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He scattered three hits, recorded three strikeouts and did not walk a batter while facing Lehigh Valley, the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate.
Schmidt mixed in five different pitchers – his four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, slider and knuckle curveball. He topped out at 95.1 mph on the radar gun and averaged 94.1 mph on his four-seamer.
Wednesday marked the latest step in Schmidt’s recovery from the Tommy John surgery performed in July 2025, one that he described as “very seamless” six weeks ago. Schmidt began his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Saturday, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Schmidt, 30, started 63 games for the Yankees from 2023-25, establishing himself as a vital rotation cog. But the Bombers are preparing Schmidt to return to the Majors in a relief role. His eventual return could boost a unit that is navigating the loss of right-hander Fernando Cruz, who is on the injured list with a partially torn UCL.