The Yankees haven’t decided which day Clarke Schmidt will officially make his return to the rotation.
Those conversations were set to continue over the weekend.
But one thing was certain: Schmidt feels ready to return from the right rotator cuff tendonitis that delayed his start to the season.
“I feel good,” Schmidt said Saturday at Yankee Stadium. “I feel like my last two [rehab] starts have been productive down there in Somerset. Happy with the results and the stuff and the command and everything that goes with it.”
Schmidt totaled 7.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts in two rehab starts with Double-A Somerset, including a four-inning, four-strikeout outing on Thursday in his final minor-league tuneup.
The right-hander threw 51 pitches in his first start and 61 pitches in his second — a buildup he likened to spring training.
“I’m happy with where my body’s been responding,” Schmidt, 29, said. “It’s been really good every five days right now. Just continuing to harp on my recovery and stay on my process.”
Schmidt experienced shoulder fatigue following his spring debut on March 11, then pivoted to throwing a bullpen session rather than another exhibition start for his next turn in the rotation. He ended up making only one start — a 1.2-inning outing — during spring training.
Earlier this month, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees were targeting Tuesday or Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx to be Schmidt’s first start at the MLB level this season.
“He’s turned into a really good pitcher in the league,” Boone said Saturday. “Feel like he’s in a really good spot, too. His setbacks in spring training were pretty minor in nature, so the biggest challenge for him has just been getting him built up. Excited to get him back.”
Schmidt went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA over 16 starts during a breakout 2024 season, though he missed more than three months with a lat strain.
He is set to add a boost to a Yankees rotation that entered Saturday with the highest ERA (5.46) and second-fewest innings pitched (62.2) among MLB staffs.
The Yankees remain without fellow right-handed starter Luis Gil, who is expected to be out until at least June with a lat strain, while ace Gerrit Cole underwent season-ending elbow surgery last month.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Schmidt said of his absence. “I want to be out there competing with my guys and this is something that I don’t want to happen. Being able to go out there and compete every five days is something that I hold close to my heart, and I want to make sure that I’m able to do that.”
ALL SYSTEMS GO
Yoendrys Gomez struggled with his command during a relief appearance Friday, throwing only 14 of his 33 pitches for strikes amid the dreadful weather conditions.
He issued four walks during the sixth inning before the game was finally delayed, and ultimately made final, due to the rain.
“That’s probably the worst conditions we’ve ever experienced, and we’ve been doing this for a long time,” Boone said after Friday’s game, referencing a conversation with bench coach Brad Ausmus.
“I got concerned with Yo Go there, because it was coming out, 85, 88, 86 [mph], and he’s not throwing changeups there. … I think he’s OK.”
Gomez, whose fastball averages 92.1 mph, also said he felt fine physically. Boone said he did not expect Gomez to undergo testing.
“I think [he was] probably just having a little trouble getting a grip, and probably backing off a little, trying to get a feel for it,” Boone said.
