After a major scare this past Sunday, New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is in “a pretty good spot,” according to manager Aaron Boone. That’s the news Yankee fans needed to hear, especially with the postseason on the horizon. This guy, a starter-turned-reliever, just got back from Tommy John Surgery and his health is absolutely critical for their October bullpen.
A Seriously Close Call For the Bullpen
Talk about a gut punch on Sunday, right? Schmidt was warming up in the sixth inning of their loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks and felt cramping in his right biceps. He didn’t even get into the game. For anyone coming back from TJ surgery, any little twitch is going to get your heart racing. Schmidt himself told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that he wasn’t going to push through anything, especially given the circumstances of his return. He only made one appearance since coming back, just last week against the Minnesota Twins, where he put up two strikeouts and gave up two bloop hits. So, a bicep cramp right after that first outing? That’s not what anyone wants.
Why This Update Is Such a Relief
But here’s the good news, and honestly, what a massive relief it is: “Nothing structural, it was more precautionary,” Schmidt confirmed. All the testing came back fine; no issues with the shoulder, nothing with the elbow. And now, Boone’s update today, telling reporters like Hoch that Schmidt “looks like he’s in a pretty good spot,” is huge. Schmidt is even slated to play catch today to see how available he can be. You know the Yankees want this guy to make a few more appearances before the postseason really kicks off. He was a full-time reliever in 2022 during his first full season in the Majors, so he absolutely has the potential to provide some serious quality depth for them in October. It’s all about getting him those reps now.
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Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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