NEW YORK – Clarke Schmidt arrived at Yankee Stadium on Sunday morning with his bags packed for the club’s charter flight to Minneapolis, the clearest indication yet that the right-hander has cleared the final hurdle of his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
“This has been a long journey,” Schmidt said. “There’s a lot of anticipation. It’s probably going to feel like a debut when I go out there, but it’s exciting. I’m ready to get back out there and compete with the guys.”
The Yankees might activate Schmidt during their series against the Twins that begins Monday night at Target Field, manager Aaron Boone said.
Saturday marked Schmidt’s fifth Minor League rehab appearance, when he took the ball for Double-A Somerset and struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. Schmidt has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure performed in July 2025.
While the Yankees view Schmidt as a starting pitcher long term, they plan to use him out of the bullpen in September and potentially entering the postseason.
“I think it will shake itself out,” Schmidt said. “I don’t think I’m going to be throwing a bunch of innings, like three or four ups, stuff like that. And I don’t see myself going back to back. I want to work myself into leverage and pitch in big scenarios, and try to pitch as much as I can.”
Across five Minor League outings with Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Schmidt permitted three runs in seven innings (3.86 ERA), with six hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
“I threw some quality fastballs,” Schmidt said. “[On Saturday] I threw a really good four-seamer away and I was like, ‘OK.’ It was like 95, 96, really quality. I just noticed my shape keep getting better and better each outing, and this last outing, I was like, ‘I feel like my arm is moving really quick.’”
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.
“I think he could be huge,” Boone said. “I think he’s throwing the ball really well. His stuff is really good right now. I feel like it has been for the last month. I think he definitely could be an interesting guy for us down there, and hopefully that’s the case.”
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.