The New York Yankees keep waiting on pitching help that never quite arrives on schedule. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Tuesday that Clarke Schmidt will make his second minor-league rehab start Wednesday night, but he still appear to have multiple hurdles to clear before returning.
Schmidt has been out since July 2025 after Tommy John surgery cut short the best season of his career. He was 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings when the UCL tear ended it.
His first rehab outing with Double-A Somerset was short and mixed. He threw 20 pitches, recorded two outs — both strikeouts — and allowed a two-run homer to Cleveland prospect Aaron Walton.
Boone still liked what he saw. “I thought he looked pretty good the other day,” he said. “He gave up two runs, and gave up a home run, but he looked good, and his live [bullpen session] looked really good too. I’m encouraged where Clarke’s at.”
Encouraged is not the same as close. Boone said Schmidt would need “at least a couple, few more” rehab starts after Wednesday.
That timeline is the frustrating part.
The Yankees already lead the majors in starter ERA and bullpen ERA, yet they have spent the year patching around absences. Ryan Weathers and Fernando Cruz remain out. Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have all missed time.
Luis Gil’s return from the bullpen on Monday was a small step. Schmidt would be a larger one, and he is not ready.
“I think there’s a real chance he can help us,” Boone said. The most realistic version of that help is as a swing reliever in October rather than a starter.
The Yankees already have a deep group of potential playoff starters and did little to reinforce the bullpen at the deadline.
Schmidt’s mid-90s cutter, knuckle-curve, slider and sweeper have produced nearly a strikeout per inning over his career. That mix would fit high-leverage innings if he can get there in time.
For now he cannot. The Yankees keep winning close, low-scoring games that look like October. They also keep waiting on a pitcher who looked like he had finally figured it out last summer.
Boone’s optimism is genuine. The calendar is not. Schmidt remains weeks away, not days, and that gap is starting to feel longer than the 20-pitch outing that preceded it.
