Yankees Hit with Devastating Blow as Clarke Schmidt Faces Likely Tommy John Surgery
The New York Yankees feared the worst when right-hander Clarke Schmidt was placed on the injured list with forearm tightness—and now, those fears have been confirmed.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Schmidt has suffered a torn UCL and will likely require Tommy John surgery. If the procedure goes forward, Schmidt is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season and could be sidelined for much of 2026 as well, given the typical 12-to-18-month recovery timeline.
The news casts a long shadow over the Yankees’ rotation depth, which has already been tested by injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil.
A Gritty Effort Before the Diagnosis
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported that Schmidt had been experiencing tightness since his June 4 start, yet he managed to make three more appearances, pitching through discomfort. In that stretch, he was remarkably effective—allowing just six hits and five walks over 20.2 shutout innings, while striking out 15.
Unfortunately, things took a turn soon after. In his final two starts before going on the IL, Schmidt gave up seven runs on eight hits and four walks over nine innings, including a short three-inning outing where he was pulled after just 55 pitches.
Reliable Arm Now Lost
Despite the setback, Schmidt had been a consistent force in the Yankees’ rotation. He compiled a 3.32 ERA, 1.093 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, becoming a key piece amid a turbulent stretch of injuries and inconsistencies in the starting staff.
Now, the Yankees must scramble to fill yet another hole. While Luis Gil is expected back later this season, other depth options like Will Warren and Marcus Stroman have had mixed results. The urgency to make a trade before the deadline has increased significantly.
Losing Schmidt, who had shown signs of a breakout season, is a brutal blow for a Yankees team still trying to stay afloat in the postseason race—and his long-term absence raises even more questions about the club’s starting pitching outlook well into 2026.